Introducing Skill Sprints: Fast Tracking Our Colleagues L&D

At Flutter, we’re passionate about offering colleagues a diverse learning and development experience, and building a culture that empowers people to learn their way. Our recently launched Skill Sprints, in partnership with University College Dublin (UCD), give people the autonomy and opportunity to upskill at their own pace. 

A powerful partnership

UCD is one of the most prestigious universities in Ireland and is a natural partner for Flutter. We share a strong history - not only is the main campus less than a 20-minute walk away from our Dublin office, many of our colleagues are UCD alumni. 

The university’s ambitious approach to innovation and careers in Dublin also aligns with our culture and values. And their courses are grounded in real-world application and focused on supporting career progression in the future, something we’re also really passionate about. So we’re thrilled to broaden our collaboration and bring this new way of learning to our colleagues. 

And even more good news for our colleagues, these Skill Sprints aren't only limited to our colleagues based in Ireland. Anyone working across the UKI region from the UK to Malta can undertake a Skill Sprint as they are delivered virtually.

Making learning and development flexible and agile

Every year, colleagues across UKI receive £1,000 Self Development Fund to spend on personal growth. Through the online platform, Learnably, people can browse a variety of options - from podcasts and videos to books and in-person courses. All learning can be tied to a goal and colleagues can ask for support and guidance from managers on how to spend their fund. 

The introduction of Skill Sprints was inspired by many of our colleagues who were looking for more flexible high-quality development opportunities. There was a strong appetite for learning and development that would fit within working hours, feel practical, and provide the chance to learn collaboratively (as opposed to just absorbing information in isolation). Skill Sprints offer all of this and more, giving people the opportunity to learn a host of new skills at their own pace. 

Skill Sprints: how do they work?

Skill Sprints are designed to give people short immersive learning experiences, with a focus on aligning with career-based goals and offering real-world interactivity and reflection. 

Over three weeks, colleagues can attend live expert-led workshops, take part in interactive breakout sessions (with people from different industries), and apply their learning through tasks, quizzes and learning logs. There are over 20 options to choose from across a broad range of topics including AI, data, leadership, project management, and coaching. 

Skill Sprints are all about providing colleagues with opportunities for self-led growth and experimentation. And at the end of each sprint colleagues will not only have gained new skills and experiences, they’ll also receive a certificate - something tangible to reflect on their participation.

Not a one-size-fits-all approach

“When it comes to learning and development, we know everyone has different needs and ambitions so we’re always looking for ways to adapt,” says Christian Bulmer, Learning and Development Manager. “The UCD Skill Sprints really align with our learning and development philosophy at Flutter. The courses put collaboration and inclusivity at the heart, empowering colleagues to work alongside others and learn when and how it suits them. Whether it’s learning through a podcast, book, video or physical course, we’re committed to creating an equitable environment and providing flexible options. The Skill Sprints are built on a long-standing partnership with UCD and so far the statistics speak for themselves - we’ve seen a 235% increase in UCD requests within the first week and over 240 colleagues engaging with UCD courses this year alone. As we understand the sprints more we can work with UCD on tailoring them to colleagues and our specific business needs at Flutter so it’s a really exciting time for development as a whole.”