83% of AstraZeneca employees agree that they have the opportunity for development & growth. How did you reach this level?

The high percentage of employees who feel they have opportunities for development and growth reflects our commitment to promoting a culture of lifelong learning. We focus on creating everyday development experiences that empower our people to continuously build skills, adapt to change, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. For example, our ‘Empowerment: Diversity by Design’ programme is a learning experience designed to help under-represented talent working at all levels of the company.

Whether it’s an aspiring leader or someone who has already begun their leadership journey, the programme supports individuals to unlock their potential, achieve success and builds confidence to step into new opportunities and take control of their career at AstraZeneca. By curating an inclusive and supportive learning culture, we encourage our people to exercise their curiosity and engage in meaningful learning activities.

What is the ‘3Es’ framework?

We use the '3Es' learning framework of education, exposure, and experience to meet different learning preferences and needs. By combining formal education with real-world experiences, we provide diverse development pathways that support growth at every career stage. This inclusive approach ensures that all employees can develop their capabilities, enhance their performance, and feel a sense of belonging.

We place emphasis on upskilling and reskilling and encourage employees to take ownership of their development. By offering a wide range of self-nominating learning programmes, individuals can choose the development opportunities that best suit their goals.

We aim to ensure that every employee has the opportunity to grow, contribute, and reach their full potential.

How is that approach helping upskill your workforce as we hurtle into the AI era?

As we enter the age of AI and automation, it’s a priority that we reskill and upskill our workforce to remain agile and prepare for future changes. Our strategy focuses on equipping employees with both technical and human skills to thrive in a technology-driven environment.

Our generative AI accreditation programme is a key initiative in this effort, offering practical, peer-to-peer learning opportunities to build confidence in using AI tools. The programme is open to all employees, globally, regardless of experience. It’s seen high engagement, with over 8,000 participants, 5,000 issued certificates, and 94% of learners finding the training relevant to their work.