United Kingdom · Learning and development · Lead (8-12 years)

Lead Instructional Designer

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

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Where should we send it?

One email: what AI is changing in this job, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

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  • Experience bandLead (8-12 years)
  • Direct reports3-5 reports
  • Reports toManager, Instructional Design
  • UK framework levelUsually a manager, or the deepest specialist in a team

Also advertised as Learning Experience Architect · Principal Learning Designer · Senior Learning & Development Specialist

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Computing for England Pearson Education Ltd · Level 5 · covers 2 of 6 standards
OCNLR Entry Level Certificate in Digital Skills (Entry 3) OCN London · Entry Level · covers 1 of 6 standards
1st4sport Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Outdoor Programmes 1st4sport · Level 3 · covers 1 of 6 standards
NCFE Level 3 Certificate in User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) NCFE · Level 3 · covers 1 of 6 standards
RSL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Digital Media RSL Awards Ltd · Level 3 · covers 1 of 6 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

User Experience and Interface Design Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Computing for England
Introduction to User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) Design OCNLR Entry Level Certificate in Digital Skills (Entry 3)
Design outdoor education programmes 1st4sport Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Outdoor Programmes
The user-centred design (UCD) process NCFE Level 3 Certificate in User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI)
Designing UX for Interactive Digital Media RSL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Digital Media
Systems Development and User Experience (UX) ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Computing Technologies {Application Development)

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Lead Instructional Designer

6 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. User Experience and Interface Design Pearson Education Ltd · covers 2 of 6 standards Level 5
  2. Introduction to User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) Design OCN London · covers 1 of 6 standards Entry Level
  3. Design outdoor education programmes 1st4sport · covers 1 of 6 standards Level 3
  4. The user-centred design (UCD) process NCFE · covers 1 of 6 standards Level 3
  5. Designing UX for Interactive Digital Media RSL Awards Ltd · covers 1 of 6 standards Level 3
  6. Systems Development and User Experience (UX) ATHE Ltd · covers 1 of 6 standards Level 7
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Lead Instructional Designer?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • Ethical AI in Learning Design
  • Learning Experience Platform (LXP) Optimisation
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Lead Instructional Designer plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

3What this role really is

A Lead Instructional Designer plans and builds blended learning programmes that solve real business problems. This work sets the standard for how training is designed and delivered, and how well it works.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

Articulate 360 (Storyline & Rise) Expert

Designing and developing highly complex, interactive e-learning modules with custom variables, advanced triggers, and JavaScript in Storyline. Creating rapid prototypes and microlearning paths in Rise. Mentoring junior designers on advanced features and troubleshooting.

LMS/LXP Administration (e.g., Cornerstone, Workday Learning) Advanced

Configuring complex learning paths, curricula, and certifications. Building custom reports and dashboards to track programme progress and impact. Managing system integrations with other HR or business systems. Guiding junior team members on LMS best practices.

Video & Media Production (Camtasia, Adobe Premiere Pro, Audition) Advanced

Producing polished instructional videos, software simulations, and motion graphics. Editing and optimising audio for professional quality. Establishing video learning standards and guidelines for the team.

Collaboration & Project Management (Asana, Jira, Miro) Advanced

Managing multiple complex learning programmes simultaneously, tracking dependencies, and allocating team resources. Designing and facilitating collaborative design thinking workshops and virtual storyboarding sessions in Miro. Overseeing the team's project workflow.

Learning Analytics & Reporting (Power BI, xAPI) Advanced

Designing and building custom Power BI dashboards to connect learning data with business performance metrics. Understanding and applying xAPI principles for advanced learning experience tracking. Presenting data-driven insights on programme impact to senior leadership.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Learning Design Methodology Follows prescribed methodology (e.g., ADDIE step-by-step) as instructed by senior ID. Selects appropriate methodology (ADDIE vs. SAM) for routine projects, consults senior ID for complex cases. Defines and champions the optimal design methodology for entire programmes, adapting it as needed. Sets standards for others.
Programme Budget Allocation No budget authority. Informs supervisor of resource needs. Manages project budget up to £5K, escalating overruns to manager. Approves project expenditures up to £20K. Recommends budget allocation for programmes up to £200K to L&D Manager.
Vendor Selection (Content/Tools) No involvement. Uses existing tools/content. Researches and recommends specific tools/content under manager's guidance. Evaluates, selects, and manages relationships with key learning technology and content vendors within programme scope. Influences broader L&D tech stack decisions.
Team Mentorship & Development Focuses on own learning and development. Provides informal guidance to new joiners on specific tasks. Formally mentors 3-5 junior/mid-level designers, conducts performance reviews, and contributes to their career development plans.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Programme Completion & Engagement
The percentage of targeted learners completing key learning programmes within the expected timeframe, alongside engagement metrics like active participation in blended elements.
Target · Achieve >85% completion rate for critical programmes; >70% active participation in blended components.

Your new Sales Onboarding Programme sees 90% of new hires complete all modules within 6 weeks, with an average forum engagement of 3 posts per learner.

Knowledge Gain (Kirkpatrick Level 2)
Measurable improvement in learners' knowledge, skills, or attitudes directly attributable to your learning programmes, often via pre/post-assessments or quizzes.
Target · Average knowledge lift of >35% across core programme assessments.

After completing your 'Advanced Product Features' programme, sales reps show a 40% increase in correct answers on a product knowledge test compared to their baseline.

Project Delivery & Quality
The ability to deliver complex learning programmes on time, within budget, and to a high standard, with minimal post-launch errors.
Target · Deliver 95% of led programmes on schedule and within 5% of the allocated budget, maintaining a <1% post-launch error rate.

The 'Leadership Essentials' programme launched exactly as planned, £2K under budget, and received zero reported content errors in the first month.

Team Development & Mentorship
The growth and readiness of the junior instructional designers you lead and mentor, measured by their ability to take on more complex tasks and progress in their careers.
Target · At least one mentored L1/L2 designer is 'ready now' for promotion to the next level within 12-18 months.

Sarah, one of your direct reports, successfully led her first end-to-end project, demonstrating strong independent design skills after 14 months of your guidance.

Strategic Alignment & Impact
The extent to which your learning programmes directly address critical business objectives and are seen as essential by senior stakeholders.
  • You're proactively consulted by department heads on new initiatives. Your programmes are explicitly referenced in quarterly business reviews as contributing to strategic goals. Leadership asks for your input on how learning can solve emerging challenges.
Design Innovation & Standards
Your contribution to evolving our learning design methodologies, introducing new approaches, and setting high-quality standards for the wider team.
  • You've successfully piloted a new learning format (e.g., a branching scenario or gamified module) that's now being adopted by others. Your design templates become the team's go-to. Junior designers frequently ask you for advice on complex design problems.
Stakeholder Trust & Collaboration
The quality of your relationships with Subject Matter Experts and business leaders, ensuring smooth collaboration and effective knowledge extraction.
  • SMEs actively seek out opportunities to work with you. You're able to navigate conflicting feedback effectively. Business leaders express confidence in your ability to translate their needs into impactful learning solutions.
Problem-Solving & Adaptability
Your ability to diagnose root causes of performance issues and design creative, practical solutions, even when faced with ambiguous or changing requirements.
  • You successfully pivot a programme design when business needs shift. You propose non-training solutions when appropriate and convince stakeholders. You turn a vague request into a clear, actionable design plan.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Solving Complex Problems

You'll spend your days dissecting tricky business challenges, figuring out if learning is the answer, and then designing multi-faceted programmes to tackle them. It's like being a detective, but your reward is better organisational performance.

Being asked to design a programme to reduce customer churn by 10% and figuring out the blend of product knowledge, soft skills, and process training needed to achieve it.

Building and Architecting

You'll be creating entire learning journeys from scratch, not just individual modules. This means thinking about the whole learner experience, from pre-work to post-programme support, and seeing your vision come to life.

Developing a comprehensive blended onboarding programme for a new role, incorporating e-learning, virtual sessions, job shadowing, and mentorship components.

Mentoring and Growing Others

A big part of your role is guiding and developing junior designers. You'll get a real buzz from seeing them improve, tackle more complex tasks, and ultimately progress in their careers because of your input.

Helping a junior designer refine their Storyline skills to build a complex interaction, or coaching them on how to manage a difficult SME.

What frustrates people
  • Being asked to 'just put this PowerPoint online' without any real analysis or design input.
  • The constant battle to get Subject Matter Experts' time and feedback, especially when they're perpetually busy.
  • Having a nearly complete programme sent back for major, last-minute changes by legal or compliance.
  • Trying to prove the return on investment (ROI) of learning when the data isn't always clean or easy to link to business metrics.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, solitary role with minimal interaction; you'll be collaborating constantly.
  • A purely execution-focused role; you're expected to think strategically and challenge assumptions.
  • A static environment; priorities and technologies will shift, and you'll need to adapt.

8Who you work with

This role directly influences the learning culture and the effectiveness of our talent development initiatives. You'll be setting the design standards for the team, meaning your influence ripples through every learning experience we create. Get it right, and we build a highly skilled workforce; get it wrong, and we're just throwing content at problems.

Inside the business
  • L&D Management Team
  • Product Leadership
  • Sales Enablement
  • HR Business Partners
  • Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) across various departments
Outside the business
  • Learning Technology Vendors
  • External Content Providers
  • Industry Peers for best practice sharing

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Proven track record of leading the design and development of multiple complex, blended learning programmes from conception to evaluation.
  • Demonstrable experience in conducting thorough needs analysis and performance consulting, leading to impactful learning solutions.
  • Expert-level proficiency in at least one major authoring tool (e.g., Articulate Storyline) and advanced proficiency in an LMS/LXP.
  • Experience in formally mentoring or leading junior instructional designers, providing constructive feedback and guidance.
  • Strong portfolio showcasing a range of instructional design projects, particularly those demonstrating innovative approaches and measurable impact.
  • A solid grasp of learning analytics and the ability to connect learning outcomes to business results.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced xAPI & Learning Record Store (LRS) Utilisation

Moving beyond basic SCORM tracking, xAPI allows us to capture rich data on any learning experience, not just formal courses. As a Lead, you'll need to design learning ecosystems that fully leverage xAPI for deep insights into behaviour and impact.

xAPI Statement Structure · Recipe Design · LRS Data Analysis · Data Visualisation for xAPI

  • This month: Complete an introductory course on xAPI fundamentals (e.g., from ADL or a vendor).
  • Next quarter: Work with our learning tech team to implement xAPI tracking on a small, non-LMS learning experience (e.g., a job aid, a simulation).
  • Month 4-6: Design an evaluation strategy for a new programme that relies heavily on xAPI data for Level 3/4 metrics.
  • Month 7-9: Present a case study on how xAPI data improved a programme or revealed new insights.

Quick win: Identify one current learning activity where basic completion data isn't enough, and brainstorm how xAPI could capture richer insights.

Low-Code/No-Code Development for Learning

Tools like Webflow, Glide, or even advanced features in Articulate Storyline allow for rapid development of custom learning applications, portals, or simulations without extensive coding. This means faster prototyping and more tailored solutions.

Visual Development Environments · API Integration (Basic) · User Interface (UI) / User Experience (UX) Design Principles · Rapid Prototyping

  • This month: Experiment with a free tier of a low-code platform (e.g., Glide, Softr) to build a simple internal learning resource portal.
  • Next quarter: Identify a small, recurring business problem that could be solved with a custom low-code learning tool.
  • Month 4-6: Build a functional prototype of a learning application using a low-code tool and gather user feedback.
  • Month 7-9: Present the potential of low-code solutions to the L&D team, showcasing a successful internal project.

Quick win: Create a simple interactive job aid or decision-tree tool for your team using a low-code platform like Glide—it's surprisingly powerful for quick wins.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attending industry conferences and webinars (e.g., Learning Technologies, DevLearn) to stay current on trends.
  • Active participation in professional communities (e.g., LinkedIn groups, ATD, Learning Guild) for knowledge sharing and networking.
  • Committing to continuous learning on new authoring tools, learning platforms, and AI applications in L&D.
  • Seeking out opportunities to present on learning design best practices internally or at industry events.
  • Mentoring junior colleagues and actively seeking mentorship from senior L&D leaders.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

Ethical AI in Learning Design

AI is rapidly changing how we create, deliver, and track learning. As we use AI more, understanding its ethical implications—bias in content, data privacy, and equitable access—becomes paramount. We need to ensure our AI-driven learning is fair and responsible.

  • Algorithmic Bias in Content
  • Data Privacy & AI
  • AI for Accessibility
  • Transparency & Explainability

Learning Experience Platform (LXP) Optimisation

LMSs are becoming LXPs, shifting from compliance-driven repositories to personalised, learner-centric hubs. As a Lead, you'll need to understand how to design and curate experiences that truly leverage an LXP's capabilities for discovery, social learning, and skill development.

  • Personalised Learning Paths
  • Content Curation Strategies
  • Social Learning Integration
  • Skills-Based Learning

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • ADDIE & SAM Methodologies
  • Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Evaluation
  • Adult Learning Theory (Andragogy)
  • Performance Consulting & Needs Analysis
  • Instructional Design for Blended Learning
  • Learning Objective Design (Bloom's Taxonomy)

14The pathway

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. 1

    Senior Instructional Designer (Internal Promotion)

    5-8 years as a Senior ID

    Skills to master

    • Leading complex projects, advanced authoring tool proficiency, initial mentorship of junior staff, strong stakeholder management, proving programme impact.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently delivers large-scale, high-quality projects on time and within budget.
    • Is the 'go-to' person for complex technical or design challenges within the team.
    • Has successfully mentored at least two junior designers to a higher level of autonomy.
    • Proactively identifies opportunities for process improvement or design innovation.
    • Can confidently present programme strategies and results to mid-level management.
  2. 2

    Learning Experience Designer/Architect (External Hire)

    8-12 years experience in a similar role at another organisation

    Skills to master

    • Programme architecture, advanced learning analytics, strategic needs analysis, cross-functional influence, team leadership/mentorship.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Portfolio demonstrates leadership of multi-modal, end-to-end learning programmes.
    • Can articulate how learning solutions directly addressed specific business challenges.
    • Has experience managing relationships with senior stakeholders and vendors.
    • Proven ability to lead and develop a small team or project group.
    • Deep expertise in learning technologies and design methodologies.
  3. 3

    Training Manager/Specialist (Transition from Related Field)

    Roughly 10-15 years in a related field (e.g., Training Manager, HR Business Partner, Product Manager with strong training focus) with significant self-study/certification in ID.

    Skills to master

    • Formal instructional design methodologies, authoring tools, learning technology platforms, learning science principles, content development.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Demonstrable understanding of core ID principles and methodologies.
    • Strong project management and stakeholder management skills from previous roles.
    • A clear passion for learning design, evidenced by personal projects or certifications.
    • Ability to quickly acquire technical proficiency in authoring tools and learning platforms.
    • Proven ability to translate business needs into actionable solutions.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to Director of Learning and Development, VP of Talent and Organisational Development, or Chief Learning Officer.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Lead Instructional Designer is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from User Experience and Interface Design, worked against Lead Instructional Designer.

User Experience and Interface Design Level 5

Applied to your work in Lead Instructional Designer

The objective of this unit is to enable learners to research, plan, build, and evaluate user interfaces, considering user experience principles and end-user requirements. Learners will create a user experience map, design and build a user interface concept, and use user feedback to improve the design.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Lead Instructional Designer
  • ADDIE & SAM Methodologies
  • Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Evaluation
  • Adult Learning Theory (Andragogy)
  • Performance Consulting & Needs Analysis
  • Instructional Design for Blended Learning
  • Learning Objective Design (Bloom's Taxonomy)
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Lead Instructional Designer is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Manager, Instructional Design

    2-4 years as a Lead Instructional Designer

    L5

    • Organisational Design for L&D Structuring the ID team for maximum effectiveness.
    • Vendor Management (Strategic) Managing key vendor relationships at a higher, more strategic level.
    • Learning Ecosystem Architecture Overseeing the entire learning technology stack and its integration.
    • Talent Management Integration Aligning learning strategy with broader talent management initiatives.
  2. Principal Learning Experience Architect (Individual Contributor Track)

    3-5 years as a Lead Instructional Designer

    L5 (IC equivalent)

    • Learning Science Research & Application Translating academic research into practical design principles.
    • Advanced Learning Analytics Modelling Building sophisticated models to predict learning impact and ROI.
    • AI/ML in Learning Design Deep expertise in applying AI/ML to personalise learning, generate content, and analyse data.
    • Systemic Learning Interventions Designing interventions that address learning needs across entire systems or departments.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, instructional design involves a fair bit of grunt work. But what if you could offload the tedious bits to AI, freeing you up to focus on the really creative, strategic stuff? Our AI Productivity Hub is designed to do just that, giving you back precious hours every week.

As a Lead Instructional Designer, you're juggling programme architecture, content creation, SME management, and team mentorship. AI isn't here to replace your genius, but it can certainly act as your super-efficient assistant, tackling the repetitive tasks that eat into your day. Imagine a world where your first drafts write themselves, and feedback analysis takes minutes, not hours.

First-Draft Content Generation

Use our integrated GenAI tools to analyse dense source documents—think policy manuals or product specs—and instantly generate a solid first draft of a script, storyboard, or even a knowledge check. This gets you past the dreaded 'blank page' much faster, letting you focus on refining and adding that human touch. It's like having a ghostwriter who understands learning principles.

Learner Feedback Synthesis

Stop manually sifting through hundreds of open-ended comments from course surveys. Just feed them into our AI model, and it'll instantly cluster feedback into common themes, identify sentiment, and highlight critical areas for improvement. You'll get actionable insights in minutes, not days, helping you iterate on your programmes faster and more effectively.

Intelligent Assessment Creation

Provide the AI with your core learning objectives and content, and watch it generate a diverse bank of assessment questions. It can craft multiple-choice, scenario-based, or true/false questions, even tailoring them to different levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. This saves you hours of painstaking question writing and ensures a broader, more robust assessment of learning.

Voice & Tone Adaptation

Got a core piece of content that needs to resonate with different audiences? Use AI to instantly adapt its voice and tone. Prompt it to 'Rewrite this for a senior executive audience' or 'Simplify this language for learners with English as a second language'. This ensures your message is always on point, without you having to manually re-draft every version.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Lead Instructional Designer?

Common routes in include Senior Instructional Designer (Internal Promotion) (5-8 years as a Senior ID), Learning Experience Designer/Architect (External Hire) (8-12 years experience in a similar role at another organisation) and Training Manager/Specialist (Transition from Related Field) (Roughly 10-15 years in a related field (e.g., Training Manager, HR Business Partner, Product Manager with strong training focus) with significant self-study/certification in ID.). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Lead Instructional Designer progress to?

This role can lead on to Manager, Instructional Design (2-4 years as a Lead Instructional Designer) and Principal Learning Experience Architect (Individual Contributor Track) (3-5 years as a Lead Instructional Designer), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Lead Instructional Designer?

Increasingly, Ethical AI in Learning Design and Learning Experience Platform (LXP) Optimisation. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 5

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in learning and development

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

The skills built as a Lead Instructional Designer transfer across industries, from education technology to healthcare. Understanding of human behaviour, technology and problem solving applies in other fields too, including product management for learning platforms.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my Lead Instructional Designer plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.