Jessica Jatau

How can a company encourage their staff to upskill online? From my research, the answer comes down to creating a learning culture where employees see professional development as an exciting opportunity rather than one of the to-do tasks they grumpily add to their list.

When a culture of learning is built in an organisation, the employees will be eager to learn, adapt, and grow their skills to match industry trends. Now the question becomes “In what ways can this culture be implemented?”

This article is all about giving you insight into the top 5 smart ways to make that happen.

5 Ways to Encourage Your Staff to Upskill Online

1. Create a Learning Budget

Here is the truth; if as a company you expect employees to take online courses, you should be willing to invest in them no matter how little you can. This can be setting aside a dedicated learning budget that shows employees that their growth is a priority to the company.

According to a LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report, 94% of employees say they would stay longer at a company that invests in their learning. This means that you can keep your best guys by simply investing in their growth.

Also read: Improve your online class with these 6 effective feedback strategies.

It is beautiful that many companies already recognise the benefits of this approach. As an employer, you can allocate funds for:

• Online courses from reputable platforms
• Live masterclasses with industry experts
• Certifications that add value to their career paths

2. Learning Gaps

As an employer, you should note that not all employees need the same training. Some may need technical upskilling, while others could benefit from leadership masterclasses or courses.

It is important to Identify specific learning gaps that ensure that the training aligns with both the employee’s career goals and your business needs. You can conduct:

• Skill assessments to pinpoint weak areas
• Surveys to understand your employees’ learning interests
• Employee performance reviews to track opportunities for development

3. Set Aside Time for Learning

Sometimes, employees might be motivated to take classes online, but guess what? The major challenge they face is finding time to upskill amid their work schedules. If employers treat learning as an "after-work-hours" activity, chances are, it won’t be taken seriously.

Also read: Benefits of Highlighting the Efforts of Your Online Learners.

One of the best ways companies set aside time for learning is by incorporating it into work hours like:

• Selecting a few hours every week dedicated to online courses.
• Creating quarterly training days where teams focus solely on professional development.
• Creating flexible schedules that allow employees to balance work and learning.

This makes employees more likely to engage and complete their courses because it forms part of their appraisal.

4. Provide Training Resources

Trust me, this makes everything way easier than you can imagine for your employees. Even though there are countless online learning platforms, you should focus on those that provide structured, easy-to-follow content.

A cool example is Klas, an all-in-one Learning Management System (LMS) that helps enterprises train and upskill their staff easily. It offers features that allow your staff to

• Attend live virtual classes with interactive features, and cloud recording, allowing them to replay the classes later on
• Learning resources like eBooks
• Attend masterclasses by industry experts organised by you.

Also read: How to Thrive in Financially in 2025

As an employer, you can track their learning progress using the built-in management tools, making accountability easier for you.

5. Reward Efforts

The best part! You will agree with me that everyone loves a little recognition. Employees are more likely to complete training when their efforts are appreciated. This must not be a monetary reward or treating them to their favourite. Nonetheless, here are some ideas you may want to consider:

• Certificates & Recognised Badges
• Bonuses, or Raises
• Shoutouts & celebrations in team meetings or company-wide newsletters.

When you create a culture where learning is celebrated, you motivate employees to stay committed and eager to keep growing and contribute to the company's overall growth.

Upskilling your employees in 2025 isn’t just a “nice-to-have” strategy but a necessity for businesses that want to grow and stay competitive.

When you integrate learning platforms like Klas into your training strategy, you create a structured, engaging, and results-driven learning experience for your staff and a great teaching experience for the resource personalities you will be inviting.