Room to Grow: The Launch of Blue Square Academy

At Blue Square, we don’t just want to create a place where people work – we want to create a place where they flourish and achieve their full potential. That’s why we’ve launched Blue Square Academy.

As Victoria (Head of People Development) so perfectly put it in a recent Q&A, “Careers aren’t like ladders anymore, they’re like climbing frames.” Gone are the days of linear career paths. Now, people want to move dynamically between roles, learn new skills, and even pivot into entirely new areas.  But here’s the problem: 74% of employees say they can’t reach their full potential because of a lack of learning and development opportunities (Training Journal). Not on our watch.

Blue Square Academy is our answer. It’s our way of saying, we believe in you—not just for today in your current role, but for the future. Our goal is to provide fun, digestible learning that not only inspires and motivates our people but is also suitable for all learning styles; whether that’s listening to a podcast in the car, attending a live session to bounce ideas around or something entirely different.

Let’s face it: if employees don’t feel challenged, supported, and empowered to grow, they won’t stick around. And, if they do stay, they won’t thrive. In today’s world, where the work landscape is constantly shifting, professional growth isn’t an optional extra—it’s a must-have. Here’s why it matters to us:

1. Boosts retention: Employees are 42% more likely to stay with a company that offers solid training and development opportunities (LinkedIn Learning). We’re not about quick fixes or quick turnover. We’re in this for the long haul, for both our business and our people.
2. Encourages engagement: Teams that engage with continuous learning are 47% more likely to be engaged in their work (Gallup). When people feel empowered to grow, they show up as the best version of themselves—every day. That’s when the magic happens.
3. Future-proofs careers: In a world where skills are constantly evolving, the best way to ensure your people stay relevant is by offering the tools and knowledge to adapt. In fact, 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development (LinkedIn). We’re not just investing in the now—we’re investing in their next.

Blue Square Academy isn’t just any L&D programme. We’ve invested time to better understand what’s important to our 600+ people when it comes to learning and created Academy with their curiosity at the centre.

We’ve created a ‘play your way’ learning menu that meets people where they are. With options to listen, watch, explore or get hands-on, we’re making learning part of the everyday rhythm of work, not an add-on or ‘once in a while’ test.

In a world where career paths are constantly evolving, we’re staying ahead of the curve. L&D is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. And Blue Square Academy is our way of making sure we’re delivering on that promise.