Retail's learning and people leaders, together.
A free networking community for BRC members working in L&D, HR, skills and talent development. Sharing what's working, what isn't, and what's coming next across the industry.
What is the BRC Learning Forum?
Retail is at its best when it learns together, and that's exactly what the Learning Forum is for. It connects the people developing retail's workforce: Heads of L&D, HR leaders, talent and capability managers, and anyone in the business passionate about skills and development.
Every session puts you in a room with your peers from across the industry; sharing what's working, sparking new ideas, and building the kind of connections that make your job easier and your impact bigger. You'll benchmark your approach against other retailers, pick up practical ideas you can use straight away, and become part of a community that champions people development across retail.
The Forum is hosted by Vicki Young, BRC's Head of Learning, and it's completely free as part of your BRC membership.
What you'll get from the Forum
A network across retail
Connect with your counterparts at retailers of every size and shape. The relationships you build here last well beyond the session.
Ideas you can use tomorrow
Hear how other retailers are tackling the same opportunities you are, from apprenticeships to AI in learning, and take their best thinking back to your business.
A stronger voice for L&D
Be part of a community raising the profile of learning and development across the industry, and take home the insight to raise it in yours.
What we've covered recently
- Proving learning impact — analytics, measurement and ROI
- Multi-generational leadership and culture, with guest speaker Colin Ellis
- Making the apprenticeship levy work harder, with a member spotlight from Homebase
- National Apprenticeship Week — Forum members shaped the BRC's myth-buster campaign
- The Growth and Skills Levy — feeding member views directly into BRC policy work with government
Free leadership development for your first-time managers
Give your first-time managers the confidence and skills to lead from day one. Leadership Essentials is free to BRC members. Book up to three places per organisation, bookable through to the end of 2027 as dates are confirmed.
Latest Content
- Member Access
FeaturedMeeting NoteLearning Forum: Growing Retail's Next Generation of Leaders [22/09/2026]
23 Sep 2026 - Member Access
ArticleCEO Exchange Forum: Key Learnings
14 Apr 2026 - Member Access
BriefingFair Work Agency Established: What’s Next for Labour Market Enforcement
07 Apr 2026 
ArticleRetail doesn't work in silos. Neither should your leaders
01 Apr 2026- Article
Harassment Protections at Oliver Bonas
24 Mar 2026 
BlogFree tool: assess your organisation's change readiness
24 Mar 2026- Blog
You can't pour from a empty cup
10 Mar 2026 - Member AccessArticle
CEO Call Notes: Employment Rights Act 2025
24 Feb 2026 - Blog
When retail leaders are too busy to think, performance suffers
17 Feb 2026 
BlogWhat is conscious leadership and why does it matter in retail?
17 Feb 2026
Upcoming Events
EventLeadership ProgrammeBRC Retail Masters 2027
Mon 15 - Thu 18 MarThe Form Rooms, Covent Garden
EventLeadership ProgrammeBRC Leadership Essentials [January Cohort]
Mon 11 Jan '27 - Wed 17 Mar '27Thrive LMS & Teams
EventCommunity MeetingMicro WG - December 2026
Wed 16 December10:00 - 11:00Teams- EventCommunity Meeting
Micro WG - November 2026
Wed 18 November10:00 - 11:00Teams - EventCommunity Meeting
Food Microbiology & Emerging Risks Working Group (London) - 22nd October 2026 (Hybrid)
Thu 22 October09:45 - 15:30The Form Rooms, 22 Tower Street, London, WC2H 9NS. - EventLeadership Programme
BRC Leadership Essentials [October Cohort]
Wed 7 Oct - Wed 9 DecThrive LMS & Teams 
EventRoundtableBuilding the AI Skills Roadmap for Retail
Tue 6 October09:30 - 12:00The Form Rooms, 22 Tower Street
EventWebinarRetail’s next leaders are already on the shop floor
Wed 30 September14:00LinkedIn
EventConferenceCommunity MeetingBRC Asbestos in Play Sand Retail Forum
Wed 30 September09:30 - 15:00The Form Rooms, Covent Garden
Frequently asked questions
How often does the Forum meet?
The Forum meets regularly throughout the year, with a mix of virtual sessions and in-person get-togethers in central London. Join the Forum and we'll send every date straight to your inbox.
What happens at a session?
Each session is built around a topic chosen by the community — from proving learning impact to making the apprenticeship levy work harder. You'll hear from guest experts and member spotlights, then get stuck into open discussion with your peers. Every session ends with practical takeaways you can use in your own business.
Who chooses the topics?
You do. Members propose and shape the agenda at every session, so the Forum always tackles what matters most to retail's learning community right now.
Can more than one person from my business join?
The more the better! The Forum is at its best when learning, HR and talent colleagues all take part.
Do I have to attend every session?
Come to whatever's useful for you. You'll receive the write-up from every session either way, so you're always part of the conversation.
My organisation isn't a BRC member — can I join?
The Forum is a benefit of BRC membership. If you'd like to find out more about membership and what it includes, contact vicki.young@brc.org.uk.
Who runs the Forum?
The Forum is hosted by Vicki Young, BRC's Head of Learning, and co-chaired with a Forum member — because this is a community run with members, not just for them.
Becoming part of the forum
Joining takes two minutes and it's free with your BRC membership. You'll get invitations to every session, write-ups of every conversation, and a network of peers across UK retail from day one.