4 & 5 February 2025, Olympia London
7 & 8 October 2025, NEC Birmingham

The L&D Investment Paradox: 4 ways to get the most out of your learning budget

The market for global corporate learning and development (L&D) is huge: $350 billion, to be precise – and it’s increasing. But despite this massive industry-wide investment, 70% of employees feel they still lack the skills required to do their jobs, according to an analysis by Gartner.[1]

So why is it that the majority of global workers feel that the time and money invested in their development is, essentially, wasted?

One key reason: they forget. Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus conducted memory experiments to test knowledge retention over a period of time. It was from this research that he came up with the ‘forgetting curve’ theory: that knowledge retention drops off as time goes on. Within 24 hours, as much as 70% of information can be forgotten. So how can we combat this forgetting curve, and make sure you’re reaping the rewards of your investment in L&D initiatives? Here are our top 4 principles to ensure learning sticks:

  1. Leverage “spaced repetition” – taking advantage of a memory phenomenon known as the spacing effect, our brains better retain information when we space out our learning. So, instead of cramming hours of training into 1 or 2 days, spread it out. Important information is much more likely to be retained, and learners remain more engaged. Likewise, think ahead: when planning your training, schedule periodic refresher sessions, or use technology to send automated reminder nudges.
  2. Give people simulated “on-the-job training” – when we recall how to do something, we think back to the most recent time we performed that activity and how we physically were in that situation. This is why theoretical training can only take you so far – without the practical experience of demonstrating a skill, it is extremely challenging for people to know how to convert the theory of what they learned into real-life actions. By simulating challenging scenarios, people are better prepared to memorise best practices when a real-life situation arises. Hiscox applied this principle to create an Insurance Underwriting Simulator, accelerating learner skill acquisition and reducing their training time from 60 to 3 hours.  
  3. Keep it bite-sized – human attention spans are decreasing, meaning people are finding it harder than before to sit through lengthy training sessions or e-learning. Breaking down large blocks of content into manageable and digestible chunks, between 2-10 minutes in length, gives people the chance to dip in and out of training and keep them engaged – meaning less time is wasted as knowledge retention improves.
  4. Get to grips with the data – One of the biggest challenges we face in L&D is how to really measure how effective training is. Historically, a reliance on face-to-face training and metrics such as the “number of attendees” have got in the way of real insights, like how much information was actually absorbed. This is where digital solutions help you capture tangible insights on ROI. For example, insurer American National used Attensi’s analytics to identify the learner knowledge gap had been closed by 90%, giving them peace of mind that their training was impactful. This type of data, as well as tracking where people are frequently making mistakes, and where they repeat the most to improve their score, allows organisations to build a deep understanding of the effectiveness of their training and where further support may be needed to help unlock their peoples’ potential.

By incorporating these principles into your L&D strategy, you can maximise your return on investment. For more information, come and visit Attensi, game-based simulation training experts, at stand E70, or read more here: https://attensi.com/news/

[1] https://www.gartner.com/en/human-resources/role/learning-development

Attensi is a global leader in gamified simulation training. They combine advanced 3D modelling with deep insight into human behaviour to create cutting-edge learning solutions with a measurable impact on your KPIs. Whether on mobile, desktop or VR, their world-leading and scalable simulations help organisations unleash the full potential of their staff in a cost-effective way. Attensi create psychologically safe, realistic environments for employees to practise new behaviours, learn from their mistakes, and develop mastery of the skills needed for their job: from holding challenging conversations to learning new software and IT systems, to practising techniques for complex situational decision making. Their goal is to improve the world, one simulation at a time.

Speak to a member of the Attensi team at the World of Learning Summit on 28 February 2023 at Olympia London. Thomas Niven, Sector Lead – Professional & Financial Services, will also be presenting on “Getting more bang for your buck: How to generate ROI and make your budget go further” at 12:00 in Seminar Theatre 2. View the full free seminar programme here.