The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Learning Coordinator / L&D Administrator
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- LMS administration, programme logistics, basic reporting, stakeholder communication (internal L&D team), attention to detail.
You're ready to move on when
- You're proactively identifying ways to improve L&D processes, not just executing them.
- You're being asked to take on more complex tasks, like managing small parts of a programme.
- You've shown a keen interest in the 'why' behind learning requests, not just the 'what'.
- 2
Junior HR Business Partner / HR Generalist
3-4 yearsSkills to master
- Employee relations, basic HR policy, understanding business unit needs, initial performance management conversations, data analysis.
You're ready to move on when
- You've developed a strong understanding of a specific business unit's challenges and people needs.
- You're comfortable advising managers on people-related issues, including skill gaps.
- You've shown an ability to influence without direct authority in HR matters.
- 3
Trainer / Facilitator
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Adult learning principles, engaging delivery, managing group dynamics, basic content customisation, feedback collection.
You're ready to move on when
- You're consistently getting excellent feedback on your training delivery.
- You're starting to get involved in designing parts of the training, not just delivering it.
- You're asking questions about the business impact of the training you deliver.