HubSpot has announced the launch of ‘The Great Upskill’, which will see brands across APAC give their employees a full workday during the week of May 9–13 to dedicate to upskilling and job-related learning.
Among the brands taking part include Google ANZ, MessageMedia, Meltwater, Seismic, and Aircall.
The movement comes on the back of new research from the customer relationship management (CRM) platform found over two thirds (71%) of Australian workers wish their employer placed higher importance on job-related learning and upskilling, with a further four out of five saying it’s bumped to the bottom of the to-do list when work gets busy.
Kat Warboys, APAC marketing director at HubSpot, said: “Considering the changes we’re seeing in the talent market at the moment, it’s important businesses tune into their teams, and provide them with the environment and resources they need to thrive.”
“Providing our teams with the time and space to dedicate to learning is vital — not just to the individual who values upskilling to grow and feel engaged at work but to future-proof businesses too. In fact, our research showed more than 70% of employees today are looking for workplaces that prioritise learning and development over a competitive salary.
“We know talent want to be constantly learning and upskilling but struggle to find the time to dedicate to it outside of work hours. We are serious about helping our team upskill and it’s why, together with our partners, we are starting The Great Upskill movement. We hope more businesses understand the importance of upskilling, and dedicate the time and resources for their team to do so,” she added.
Joining the cohort of companies pledging to participate in The Great Upskill is Google ANZ. Google has a long history of supporting employees with work-related learning, with the company’s involvement opening up a dedicated day for upskilling to thousands of its employees.
John Ball, country manager, Google customer solutions at Google Australia, said: “Our team is proud to participate in HubSpot’s The Great Upskill initiative. Learning new skills is critical to growing our own careers, and helping Australian businesses and organisations to succeed. It can sometimes be hard to know where to start, but simply setting aside a day to focus on this is a positive step on this path.”
The Great Upskill forms part of HubSpot’s annual World Certification Week, taking place from 9–13 May 2022. First introduced in 2020, World Certification Week encourages leaders, employees, and students alike to dedicate their time to professional development by completing a free certification via HubSpot Academy.
The initiative will see HubSpot pledge a $5 donation to the Clontarf Foundation for each certification completed, with donations exceeding $15,000 in 2021.
Anushka Wijendra, chief operating officer at MessageMedia, said: “People are a critical part of our success at MessageMedia, and we are deeply committed to the growth and development of our people.
“Learning and development is a strong focus for us and our employees are given the opportunity to stretch and develop themselves. We offer Leadership programs, alongside self-development tools, external training courses and network events to enable our people to continue to learn and grow.
“This year, we’re incredibly excited to partner with HubSpot for The Great Upskill. This is a great initiative that aligns well with our commitment as a business, and we’re looking forward to facilitating dedicated time for our employees to invest in themselves and their development,” she added.
David Hickey, executive director Asia Pacific, Meltwater, said: “We have always placed a lot of importance on learning and development, it’s in our DNA. We strongly believe that workplace learning is a key driver to embracing and promoting a culture of lifelong learning.
“At the Meltwater Academy, we offer free, online courses and certifications to industry professionals to develop and hone their skills across marketing, social media, and PR. We invest in upskilling through training budgets and are further investing in our employees by hosting a two-day Australian Leadership Development Summit in Sydney for the entire national team. Partnering with HubSpot in its Great Upskill initiative is a no-brainer, it is the perfect antidote to The Great Resignation.”
Fred Viet, VP APAC, Aircall, said: “We recognise and value our employees’ contribution to our continued business growth, and believe L&D programs are critical to their experience at Aircall and show them that we are also invested in their growth.
“Together, we learn, try harder, improve each day so we can achieve our mission to create meaningful conversations. We’re excited to participate in HubSpot’s Great Upskill initiative and leverage learning and development programs to reinforce the partnership between our teams,” he added.