Udemy launches new toolkit to boost skills development in small and medium-sized businesses

Udemy has introduced a new self-serve toolkit aimed at helping small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) improve their workforce skills.

The “Udemy Business Course Collection for Small & Growing Businesses” provides a curated set of course recommendations across 15 key topics, including productivity, innovation, leadership, finance, sales, customer service, and cybersecurity.

SMBs often face challenges in attracting and retaining talent, with many small business owners reporting a lack of qualified applicants. In today’s economy, technical and professional skills are essential for the success of these businesses. Udemy’s new toolkit is based on course consumption data and is designed to help growing businesses acquire the practical and emerging skills necessary to thrive.

Greg Brown, President and CEO of Udemy, stated, “Investing in skills development is not just about enhancing SMB productivity by enabling professionals to acquire relevant skills; it's about fostering a company culture of continuous learning and growth from the onset.”

Recent surveys conducted by Udemy among businesses with up to 1,000 employees indicate that many have already adopted skills-based practices. These practices include using skills assessments for hiring and promotions, providing access to external skill-building resources, and implementing cross-functional skills-sharing initiatives.

The survey also highlighted the top outcomes from these practices, such as increased job satisfaction, higher employee engagement, improved company productivity, and enhanced opportunities for career advancement.

Ryan Jamieson, Chief Technology Officer at Calybre, a UK-based data consultancy firm and Udemy Business customer, commented, “Curated content on the Udemy Business platform has enabled a team of over 50 members to develop and grow their capabilities as data professionals over the past two years. This has not only boosted overall efficiency but empowered our employees to take ownership of their professional growth.”

In addition to the course collection, Udemy is hosting a webinar on 4 September, titled "Live Training: 4 Must-Have Skills for Your Growing Business." The webinar will feature sessions on communication, generative AI, leadership, and project management. Participants will also receive complimentary access to a course on using AI tools to automate workplace tasks.

Udemy has also enhanced its Team Plan offering, providing access to more than 27,000 courses in 15 languages. The Team Plan includes features such as goal-focused recommendations, detailed analytics, and adoption reports to help teams track their progress and optimise their learning experience.

“We are committed to serving our SMB customers with self-guided learning resources tailored to meet their unique needs, ensuring they stay innovative in today's competitive market,” Brown added.