Inside Talent Development at Admiral: Building Community-Led Learning

Here at Admiral, learning is part of who we are. We’re proud of our record of promoting from within and giving colleagues the chance to explore new opportunities and build varied, rewarding careers.

Continuous learning and development is a big part of what makes Admiral special. Alongside more traditional training, we believe that community-led learning is key to sharing knowledge, building relationships and confidence, and helping people grow together.

We spoke to Kat Searle, Head of Talent Development and Liz James Mahoney, Senior Learning Partner from Admiral’s Talent Development team about our vision for learning, and how it’s been woven into our culture from day one.

Building a culture of curiosity

Learning has always been at the heart of Admiral. Co-founder and former CEO Henry Engelhardt often reminded teams to “use other people’s experience to shorten your learning curve.”

Almost 30 years on, that mindset still shapes how we work. Our approach to learning has evolved into something deeply human and dynamic: a culture where everyone learns with, and from, each other.

Learning at Admiral happens everywhere - in meetings, online communities, through shared experiences and conversations, as well as through a wide range of formal training programmes.

Liz James Mahoney, Senior Learning Partner, has seen that transformation first-hand in her 28 years with the business.

“While formal learning gives you the knowledge, real learning happens through application, in those daily interactions where people share experiences and support each other.”

Making space for growth

Encouraging people to learn is one thing. Creating the time and space for it is another. Workloads are busy, priorities shift, and that’s often where organisations struggle.

At Admiral, we’ve made learning a clear priority. Every colleague is encouraged to dedicate time to their growth, with a business-wide goal of around 90 hours of learning each year.

As Kat Searle, Head of Talent Development, explains, it’s more than simply clocking hours:

“It’s not really about the 90 hours. It’s not a strict target but a statement of intent. It shows that Admiral believes in your growth and wants to make space for it.”

From structured induction programmes and leadership development at every level, to apprenticeships focused on future skills like data, digital and AI, Admiral ensures that everyone, wherever they are in their career, has access to meaningful opportunities to Grow & Progress.

From classrooms to communities

Like many organisations, Admiral’s approach to learning has changed significantly over time.

“When I first joined, learning was more classroom-based, and that worked at the time,” says Liz. “But over the years, we’ve realised that learning really sticks when it’s connected to people’s day-to-day experiences.”

That insight led to a shift towards peer-to-peer learning, building both formal and informal communities where colleagues can share knowledge, ideas and experiences.

“We want to move away from being the gatekeepers of learning,” says Liz. “Our job in Talent Development is to open the gates and create spaces and opportunities where people can share and learn together.”

One great example is Lead at Admiral, an initiative that brings managers together for interactive sessions on leadership and culture. The learning doesn’t stop when the event ends, with participants staying connected through follow-up communities that keep conversations going and support ongoing development.

This community-led approach is now embedded in Admiral’s culture, and even in our OKRs, which include ring-fenced learning hours to ensure everyone has time set aside for personal development.

Building skills for the future

Admiral’s learning culture is about meeting the needs of today while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.

Kat and her team are leading a future-facing strategy that blends human connection with technology and insight.

“We’re shifting towards a consultancy approach,” Kat explains. “That means working closely with the business to identify what skills we need now, as well as what we’ll need in the future.”

This includes creating a Learning Studio for designing and curating engaging content, and developing a skills-based expertise stream to deepen specialist knowledge across the business.

Technology plays an important role in this vision. Admiral is investing in a learning experience platform to help colleagues take ownership of their own learning pathways, and to give the business better insight into existing strengths and future skill gaps.

“Technology like AI will be part of that,” Kat adds. “But the human connection will always be at the heart of what we do.”

This blend of innovation and inclusivity reflects Admiral’s broader philosophy: learning is everyone’s responsibility and everyone’s opportunity.

Lifelong learning and non-linear careers

For Liz, one of the most powerful parts of Admiral’s culture is its belief that learning never stops and that careers don’t have to follow a straight line.

“The world’s always changing,” she says, “and so are we. Continuous improvement keeps us curious and adaptable.”

At Admiral, colleagues are encouraged to explore new areas, take sideways steps and build skills across different disciplines. Experience is valued, but so is curiosity. People are supported to try new things, even if not everything works perfectly.

“We want people to feel confident trying new things,” Liz says. “What matters is that you learn, share and grow from it.” It’s this mindset of learning through exploration and connection that keeps Admiral innovative, agile and proudly human.

From a colleague’s first day of induction to their latest leadership workshop, one thing runs through everything we do: our learning culture is built around people.

Learning at Admiral isn’t something that happens in isolation; it’s something we do together. Through open communities, applied learning and a culture that values curiosity, we’re creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to grow and thrive.

If you like the sound of Talent Development at Admiral, and you’re up for the challenge of helping us build the next generation of learning communities, take a look at our current open roles and see how you could be part of Admiral’s future.