About the session

Less than 40% of L&D leaders say their learning strategy is directly connected to business goals. That means most teams are working hard, spending real money and still not sure if any of it is landing where it matters.

The good news? Organisations that use skills data to shape their L&D investment report up to 30% stronger capability outcomes. The difference is not budget size. It is knowing where to look.

In this session, Debbie Venables takes you inside the world of skills data and AI to show you what evidence-led L&D decisions look like in practice. You will see how organisations are using these tools to identify gaps faster, prioritise investment more confidently and build a story that lands with senior stakeholders.

What we’ll explore

What skills data is, where it lives in your organisation right now and how to start using it to drive better decisions.
Why L&D investment made without evidence quietly costs more than you think, and what the data reveals about where budgets typically go wrong.
How AI is being used to run skills gap analysis at scale, build personalised learning pathways and surface content at the moment it is needed.
A real client story: how a skills data informed Learning Needs Analysis completely changed the shape of one organisation’s L&D spend.
How to frame the business case for L&D investment using data, capability metrics and ROI modelling that finance leaders respond to.
Practical actions you can take straight back into your role.

This session is built around what is happening in organisations right now, not theory. You will walk away with ideas you can put to use immediately.

Who it’s for

HR and People leaders making decisions about where capability investment goes.
L&D and Talent professionals who want to shift from reacting to requests to shaping strategy.
HR Business Partners looking for sharper tools to influence budget conversations.
Anyone leading on performance, capability or workforce planning.
L&D professionals who are AI-curious but want a clear, jargon-free entry point.

Why attend?

The L&D teams getting results right now are not the ones with the biggest budgets. They are the ones who know precisely where skills gaps are sitting, what those gaps are costing the business and which interventions will move the needle.

Skills data and AI make that level of clarity possible. Not someday. Right now, with tools and approaches that are already within reach for most teams.

Whether you are building a business case, redesigning your Learning Needs Analysis process or simply trying to get a better grip on where your budget is going, this session will give you a fresh perspective and something concrete to work with.

Your presenter

Debbie Venables

Debbie is a Senior Consultant at Let’s Talk Talent who works with organisations across sectors to build learning strategies grounded in evidence and connected to what the business is trying to achieve. She has a talent for making the complex feel accessible and the strategic feel doable. In this session she brings that same energy to the question every L&D professional should be asking: are we investing in the right things?

Resources and next steps

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