Train with purpose: how your 2026 training budget can create social value
January 14, 2026Posted by:
As organisations plan their 2026 training budgets, many are asking the same question: how can training deliver more than compliance and capability?
The answer lies in training with purpose – using learning and development not just to upskill your workforce, but to create meaningful, measurable social value at the same time.
Training is one of the most underused levers in social value strategies. Yet when designed intentionally, it can support inclusion, progression, productivity and community impact – all while strengthening your people strategy.
What do we mean by social value?
Put simply, social value is about creating positive outcomes for people, communities and the environment - improving lives, strengthening the economy and helping to relieve pressure on public services.
While environmental and governance considerations are now well established, the ‘social’ element can often feel less clearly defined. Yet it is increasingly central to how organisations are expected to operate.
As employers and policymakers respond to challenges such as poverty, inequality and economic inactivity, understanding social value is no longer optional. It has become a vital part of responsible business and a powerful opportunity to deliver meaningful, long-term impact through workforce investment.
From spend to strategy: rethinking training investment
Traditionally, training budgets have focused on mandatory requirements, role-based skills, or leadership development. All are important – but on their own, they often operate in isolation from wider organisational goals.
Purpose-led training takes a different approach. It asks:
- Who is accessing development opportunities?
- Does training support progression, not just entry into work?
- Is learning aligned to real workforce and community needs?
- Can impact be evidenced beyond attendance and completion rates?
When training is aligned with social value objectives, it becomes a strategic asset rather than a cost centre.
What does ‘training with purpose’ actually look like?
Training with purpose means embedding social value into how, who and why you train. In practice, this could include:
- Improving access to skills for people furthest from the labour market
- Supporting progression and retention, not just recruitment
- Upskilling existing employees to unlock internal mobility
- Strengthening local and regional economies through workforce development
- Delivering outcomes that are measurable and credible, not tokenistic
Rather than bolt-on initiatives, training becomes the engine that drives long-term inclusion and productivity.
Partnering to deliver real-world impact
To help employers turn intention into action, we work in partnership with Challenge-trg Skills to provide practical training solutions that deliver both workforce capability and social value outcomes.
This partnership enables employers to align their training investment with their wider people, ESG and CSR strategies ensuring training delivers impact beyond the organisation itself. An example of this is:
The ‘Lift Up’ pledge
The Lift Up pledge focuses on upskilling people through free training provision and creating a lasting legacy in local communities.
How it works:
- When you book 50+ FLT training places,
- CTRG will deliver a FREE Level 2 Social Value course for 12 people in your local community.
How this supports your CSR and ESG strategy
The Lift Up pledge helps organisations to:
- Create a lasting legacy of learning in local communities
- Support government priorities around adult education and work readiness
- Demonstrate clear commitment to ESG objectives and community investment
- Provide measurable social value outcomes, not just pledges
It’s a practical, credible way to ensure your training budget delivers value both inside and outside your organisation.
Why 2026 is the moment to act
Employers are facing growing pressure to demonstrate social value from procurement requirements and ESG reporting to employee expectations and community accountability. At the same time, skills shortages, retention challenges and productivity gaps continue to impact performance.
A purpose-led training strategy addresses both challenges simultaneously:
- It meets business needs by building capability and resilience
- It delivers social value by widening opportunity and supporting progression
This is social value that is embedded, not added on.
As you finalise your 2026 training budget, don’t just ask what training you need ask what impact it could create.
When training is designed with purpose, it doesn’t just build skills. It builds people, communities and sustainable organisations.
To find out more about purpose-led training solutions and the Lift Up pledge email [email protected]
To find out more about how PeoplePlus could help you on your social value journey please email [email protected]
January 14, 2026Posted by:
