The Shift That Changes Everything: From Vendor to Partner

Why agile, empathetic training partners win corporate hearts.

The biggest opportunity for training providers isn’t in delivering more content - it’s in helping organisations shape culture.  

As part of the findcourses.co.uk Innovation in L&D Awards, we spoke with SIG plc, The London Clinic, and Rolls-Royce SMR to learn what they value most in external learning partners.  

Their insights revealed a shared message: companies no longer want vendors. They want partners who understand their people. 

The Pain Point: Too Much Content, Not Enough Connection 

Corporate learning teams are overwhelmed. After years of rapid digital adoption, many organisations have a library full of eLearning but a workforce that still feels disconnected.  

HR and L&D leaders now face a different challenge: how to create engagement, trust, and connection through learning - not just deliver it. 

This shift opens a new space for providers who think beyond content and focus on culture.  

The most valued partners are those who listen deeply, respond quickly, and make learning feel personal. 

As one award-winning L&D leader put it: “Impact beats scale. The best partners make learning feel human.” 

The New Partnership Model: Empathy, Agility, and Shared Purpose 

What do today’s corporate learning teams really want from a provider? Not just expertise, but empathy. 

• Human over scale: Rolls-Royce SMR worked with smaller, agile partners who understood the nuances of a fast-growing, safety-critical start-up. Their approach showed that a well-timed, human-centred collaboration can outperform a one-size-fits-all solution.

• Empathy sells: The London Clinic reimagined learning as care. Its “Living Library” project invited their leaders to share their personal stories, turning compassion and mentorship into a strategic learning tool. For providers, this highlights a growing demand for empathy-driven design and facilitation.

• Culture, not content: SIG plc flipped the script by empowering employees to become teachers during its Learning at Work Week. Peer-led learning built belonging, not simply transferred knowledge. Providers who can foster that kind of social learning experience are now indispensable partners.

The thread running through each success? Agility, authenticity, and alignment with the client’s values. 

The Benefit: Long-Term Partnership Through Culture Building 

When providers focus on culture, not just courses, they move from transactional to transformational. Helping clients nurture trust, empathy, and psychological safety, you become co-creators of learning cultures, not just suppliers. 

This partnership approach builds credibility, retention, and results. It also differentiates providers in an increasingly crowded market. 

Corporate buyers are looking for training partners who: 
• Understand their people as much as their performance goals 
• Collaborate flexibly around business change 
• Support inclusion, wellbeing, and curiosity as part of the learning experience 

The result? Partnerships that last because they’re built on purpose. 

Partnering with Learning at Work Week 

findcourses.co.uk has proudly partnered with Learning at Work Week (LAW Week) for over a decade.  

For providers, LAWW is a powerful opportunity to showcase innovation, share expertise, and engage with forward-thinking L&D teams. By aligning with LAW Week, you can connect directly with clients seeking partners who can help them build learning culture. 

Final Thought: From Service to Partnership 

The most successful learning providers in 2025 and beyond will stand out if they stop asking, “What can we deliver?” and start asking, “How can we help your people feel connected, confident, and courageous?” 

Curious about what learners are looking for from training providers? Watch our recent webinar "Tailored Practical Evolving: What learners are looking for from training providers" to learn about current learner needs.