King’s College London (KCL) has won the prestigious Universities Human Resources (UHR) Award for Culture Change and Organisational Development for its groundbreaking staff learning and development (L&D) initiative, “From Insights to Action – Leading and Developing King’s Staff.” The award recognises the project’s revolutionary impact on employee growth, delivering exceptional and measurable results in engagement, retention, and career progression across the university.
The initiative was born from a critical need to address significant challenges identified in 2017, including a staff survey that showed only 29% satisfaction with development opportunities, coupled with low internal promotion rates and high voluntary attrition. In response, the Organisational Development team spearheaded a radical strategic overhaul. A cornerstone of this new approach was a decisive shift away from relying on external providers to leveraging the world-class expertise within King’s own highly regarded Business School. This strategic pivot, combined with a rapid transition to a hybrid learning model, allowed the university to dramatically scale its L&D provision, increasing annual training interventions from 600 to over 7,400.
The impact of this transformation has been profound and multifaceted. Staff satisfaction with development opportunities has more than doubled, soaring from 29% to 64%. The university has witnessed a 20% rise in internal promotions for management positions, and a significant drop in voluntary attrition from 10% to just 6%, demonstrating the powerful link between strategic investment in staff and organisational health.
Kirti Swift, Deputy Director of Organisational Development at King’s, said, “We are incredibly honoured to receive this UHR Award. It is a testament to the hard work and innovative spirit of our team. Our goal was to create a culture where every staff member feels valued and has clear opportunities to grow. By looking inward and leveraging the immense talent within our own university, we have not only enhanced skills but have built a more engaged, equitable, and resilient community. This award validates our belief that investing in our people is the most critical investment we can make.”
The success of the “From Insights to Action” initiative lies in its ability to operationalise and interpret data-led decision making alongside internally sourced and consulted solutions. It has meant that meaningful change has been established and has set a new standard for how King’s College London’s Organisational Development team supports strategic priorities.
About the author: Kirti Swift is Deputy Director – Organisational Development at King’s College London.
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