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Learning
consultancy.

To take on the most ambitious and complex learning challenges in your organisation, you need a strategic partner who also knows how to execute. Our learning and development consultants apply learning science and deep industry experience to help you tackle the right question in the most impactful way.

How we help

Global brands trust Sponge for strategic learning consultancy

Blended and digital learning strategy

Strategy consulting
with a boutique feel.

Learning and Development is struggling with strategic influence and connecting what they do to the business. Too often the conversation goes straight to content, without the right consideration of context.

If you are looking to improve employee engagement, enrich learner experience, influence your learning culture, or develop consistent, scalable approaches to worldclass learning, a strategic approach makes all the difference. 

Sponge offers enterprise learning strategy consulting with a boutique feel, to form a bridge between high-level learning consulting and actionable, pragmatic execution.

Learning transformation

Strategic learning consulting for learning transformation.

Tackle complex learning challenges, such as embedding systems, methodologies, programs and experiences that enable steady change on a large scale.

  • Learning culture design
  • Improving learner experience
  • Embedding strategic practices
  • Impact strategy
  • Content strategy
  • Experience strategy
  • Tech strategy
  • Talent transformation
Our consulting approach

How we work

Our Learning Strategy Approach:
3 Pillars to Locate & Create Value

To unlock value through the learning chain, we design a bespoke consulting program drawn from a pool of Sponge-approved methodologies and deliverables. 

This avoids the 'one-size-fits-all' trap of big box consulting, replacing it with a tailored approach that responds to your problem areas and objectives.

Failure to answer the right question is the biggest problem we see in L&D strategy. We'll help you address the right challenge for efficiency, impact, and value creation.

Example activities:

  • "State of the Union" reporting
  • Stakeholder mapping
  • Impact mapping
  • Competency mapping
  • Behavioural goals definition
  • Metric definition & roadmap
  • Data strategy

Ready to hear more about how we could build a solution for you?

Speak to Sponge >

An independent, impartial understanding of the context your people learn in can unlock incredible value - simply by addressing reality. Gain a true picture of the context from which your strategy will emerge.

Example activities:

  • Empathy mapping
  • Stakeholder interviews
  • Audience interviews
  • "Voice of the learner"
  • Focus groups
  • Distance analysis
  • Content inventory & gap analysis
  • Stakeholder perception reviews
  • Platform mapping & technology integration

Ready to hear more about how we could build a solution for you?

Speak to Sponge >

Once we've understood your specific challenge and business context, Sponge applies our methodologies, frameworks, and unique brand of flair to create a practical, executable solution that builds value through the learning chain.

Example activities:

  • Concept development & prototyping
  • "3E" Framework design
  • Capability frameworks
  • Impact measurement plan
  • Creative services planning
  • Experience style-scape
  • Gamification strategy
  • Communcations strategy
  • Campaign planning
  • Resource mapping
  • User story mapping

Ready to hear more about how we could build a solution for you?

Speak to Sponge >

What we don't do

We'll work with you to understand your existing learning tech stack and how to maximise value and impact from your learning technology.

However, we are not a learning platforms specialist. Some clients are seeking support to help them scan the market and review feature sets and functionality: this isn't a service we offer.

We do not provide consultancy that specifically relates to the integration of different platforms and technologies, or migration across platforms.

We focus on the 'enablement' of your people. An essential part of our consultancy will be to look at the structure of your organisation to understand the context and frameworks your people operate and learn in. 

However, we do not advise on Human Capital Management or org design.

Strong learning strategy leads to award-winning work.

Why choose Sponge?

The strategists who know how to execute.

Enterprise consulting; boutique feel.

We’re not a “big box” consulting firm, with cookie-cutter models. You’ll get a partner who really engages with your challenge.

The best ideas in the biz.

‘Unforgettable’ starts with a great idea. We’ll bring you the latest innovations from inside and outside your industry.

Unwaveringly pragmatic.

Big Consultancy can provide abstract ideals and abandon you to execute. We can take you from strategic vision to reality.

An energetic, empathetic partner.

Visionary work starts with trust and energy in the relationship. We focus on earning the right to be your strategic partner, long-term.
Strategic resources

Small steps to
big strategy.

There’s a gap. L&D functions are highly motivated to be more strategic, but they are under-resourced, under-funded, and, even in the case of mature L&D in big corporates, often under-respected. But, says, Josh Cardoz, Chief Creative & Learning Officer at Sponge, taking steps towards a more strategic approach doesn’t have to be as unreachable as all this makes it seem…

17%

of L&D teams “feel they have the right strategies in place to tackle the challenges they will face in the year ahead." (Elucidat 2024)

If you are stuck in what you are trying to do, then 9 times out of 10 it is because you are not asking the right question.

Josh Cardoz

CCLO, Sponge

Learning strategy resource

Download: Create a learning strategy that drives business impact.

This infographic breaks down simple strategic tools that you can use to connect important learning decisions deeply to broader business strategy.

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