Building strength through learning: Why lifelong learning matters to the Army and the nation

The British Army is honoured to have been recognised as Employer of the Year at the 2026 Get the Nation Learning Awards. We are proud of this achievement, not simply because it recognises our commitment to lifelong learning, but because it reflects something fundamental about how we view people, performance and potential.

Lifelong learning is often seen primarily as a benefit to the individual, and undoubtedly it is. Learning opens doors, builds confidence and creates opportunity. But in today’s world, organisations must recognise a broader truth: that lifelong learning is also a source of organisational capability.

That is certainly true for the Army.

We live and operate in an age of constant change. Technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace. New threats emerge rapidly. The volume of information confronting decision-makers continues to grow. Success in such an environment depends not only on equipment and technology, but on people who can adapt, think critically and continue learning throughout their careers.

The Army’s people are our point of difference in this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment. Lifelong learning helps us develop soldiers and leaders who are intellectually curious, resilient and able to respond to challenges that would have been unimaginable even a decade ago. From embracing emerging technologies to operating alongside allies and partners around the world, the ability to learn is increasingly central to military effectiveness.

That is why learning is not an optional extra in the Army. It is an operational necessity.

Our investment in learning and development reflects this belief. From apprenticeships and professional accreditation to higher education and research opportunities, we provide pathways that enable our people to develop throughout their service. At any one time, more than 13,000 soldiers are undertaking apprenticeships, making the Army one of the largest apprenticeship employers in the UK. Thousands more gain essential literacy, numeracy and digital skills qualifications every year.

For young people considering their future, this matters. Today’s generation rightly expects employers to invest in their development. They want opportunities to learn, grow and acquire skills that will remain valuable throughout their lives. The Army offers exactly that. Our people gain world-class vocational training, recognised qualifications and practical experience from the moment they join.

Importantly, this is not a choice between serving the Army and investing in oneself, because the two are mutually reinforcing. As soldiers learn, they become more capable and effective in their roles. As they gain experience and qualifications, they contribute more to the organisation. When they eventually leave the Army, they do so with enhanced skills, greater confidence and improved career prospects.

This is where lifelong learning delivers benefits far beyond military capability.

The Army is one of the country’s great engines of social mobility. We recruit talented individuals from every part of society and provide opportunities that help them realise their potential. Through education, training and leadership development, we help people build rewarding careers and develop the habits of learning that will serve them for life.

Individual stories illustrate this powerfully, such as that of a serving Staff Sergeant who joined the Army with no GCSEs and recently completed a second postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge. He is now studying part-time for a doctorate at King’s College London, having been funded by the Army at every stage of his learning journey. His journey is exceptional in its scale, but it reflects a principle that applies across both the Service and the nation: talent is universal, but opportunity is not always so. Learning helps bridge that gap.

That is why we are proud to support the Get the Nation Learning campaign. The challenges facing our country, whether economic, technological or social, cannot be solved by any single organisation. We need employers, educators, policymakers and communities working together to create a culture in which learning is valued at every stage of life.

The Army’s recognition as Employer of the Year is therefore not a destination but an encouragement to go further. It reinforces our belief that investing in people is the surest route to organisational success and societal progress.

Lifelong learning makes our soldiers better, our Army stronger and our nation more resilient. That is why we support Get the Nation Learning, and why we believe learning must remain at the heart of opportunity, capability and growth in the years ahead.