Learning and development research company Towards Maturity has launched its tenth year of benchmark research, the largest study of L&D effectiveness in Europe. The study is open to L&D leaders across all sectors and it is free to take part. To access the study on the Towards Maturity website please click here

The Towards Maturity Benchmark Study is an internationally recognised, vendor-neutral, longitudinal study that identifies how organisations are using learning technologies in the workplace. Since 2003, the study has analysed data from more than 2,200 organisations and over 3,700 learners. 

The confidential 2013 Benchmark Study takes between forty minutes to an hour to complete and enables participants to:

Review their current learning strategy in six key areas:

• Objectives and vision
• Impact on business outcomes
• Stakeholder engagement
• Barriers to overcome
• Underpinning technology plans
• Implementation tactics

Compare their learning activities against those of hundreds of other organisations in order to help demonstrate improvement or build a business case for change. 

Act on the results – the benchmark identifies action areas that will improve results. 

Organisations at all stages of learning maturity are invited to participate and to use the outcomes of the research which will be freely available. Those who benchmark don’t have to reinvent the wheel. 

By taking part in the study, participants initially will be sent a free Personalised Benchmark Report in August (value £300) with an in-depth analysis of their unique Towards Maturity Index – a measure of how the organisation is performing against others in the study. The personalised benchmarking report will also contain 12 updated key performance indicators and a new Alignment and Engagement Index to help participating organisations set strategy, engage stakeholders and open up new conversations within their business. 

New for this year, participants will also get the opportunity to access four new practical In-Focus reports: 'Mobile Learning', 'Aligning Learning Strategy to Business', 'Helping Individuals Practice and Perform' and 'Embedding Learning into the Workflow' at the end of the study. The main findings of the study will be launched in November 2013 in conjunction with the Learning and Skills Group.

73% of participants who completed the survey in 2012 said that their review provoked discussion or ideas on how to improve the impact of their learning services.

Niall Gavin, Group Head of L&D at First Group said, “First Group has participated in the TM benchmark over the last five years and the continual review process helps us to challenge our thinking and track our progress both internally and against our peers. The Towards Maturity Model has provided us with a practical framework on which to base our Learning and Development strategy, helping us to focus on supporting the strategic priorities of our business. I welcome the introduction of the new Alignment and Engagement Indices in the 2013 Study which will help us to strengthen our relationships with important business stakeholders.”

Laura Overton, Managing Director of Towards Maturity said, “Today’s L&D departments are under pressure to transform the way that they support learning and performance at work but have little time to stop and reflect on how they are going to achieve this. The Towards Maturity Benchmark provides the opportunity to fast-track their way to success. The independent evidence it provides, of both progress and opportunities to improve, is essential for any learning leader looking to be at the top of their game.”

The Towards Maturity 2013 Benchmark Study is free to participants thanks to the Towards Maturity Ambassador Programme which is made up of 21 leading learning organisations. They work together as ambassadors for change, identifying and improving good practice, raising awareness and driving the whole learning industry forward. 

The Towards Maturity’s Ambassador Programme includes the following founding ambassadors: Brightwave, Epic, GlobalEnglish, LINE Communications, The Corporate eLearning Consortium, successfactors, Redtray and The Charity Learning Consortium, plus CERTPOINT Systems, Speexx, Fusion-Universal, learndirect, Acteon, Toolwire, QA, Kallidus, City and Guilds, Redware, Upside Learning, Raytheon Professional Services and IMC.  

Editor's comment

The Towards Maturity benchmark is the only study of its kind and offers companies of all sizes the opportunity to objectively analyse their learning journey. Something that is often difficult to do. Key OD issues such as alignment are addressed and scrutinised by taking part in the study, and the resulting report provides participants with a document that is both a snapshot of where they're at right now and a road map of where they want to be.

Plus it's always interesting to see how you compare with your peers isn't it?

The study takes 45 minutes but could take years off the development of your L&D function. Take part in the benchmark here