To close out Learning at Work Week 2025, I had the pleasure of hosting a live Q&A session titled Get Connected with the UKAS Academy. It was a great opportunity to meet learners from across the conformity assessment sector and talk about something I’m passionate about — the power of training to build knowledge, capability and confidence.
As someone who’s been at UKAS for more than 20 years, my career has always been rooted in helping others grow — whether that was in a pathology lab early on, in assessment roles, or now as part of the UKAS Academy. I shared a personal story during the session about how my passion for learning (and teaching) began — sparked by a particularly enthusiastic work experience project that involved presenting histology slides over dinner (to a less than enthusiastic audience!). It’s that same passion that drives everything we do at the Academy.
What the UKAS Academy offers
The UKAS Academy supports individuals and organisations to deepen their understanding of accreditation, standards, and good practice. Our training helps people build confidence and competence in their roles, and we’re here to guide that journey.
It is very important to start with a . This is something I always recommend — it helps organisations identify the specific skills or knowledge gaps they want to address. From there, we can match them to the most suitable format and level of training. My colleague , our Learning Advisor, is always happy to support with this — and we offer a simple template to help get started.
Our course formats are flexible:
- eLearning for self-paced, on-demand training
- Virtual instructor-led sessions for real-time, interactive learning
- Face-to-face training at our venues
- In-house options, customised for your team and delivered on-site or online
All our training is developed alongside technical specialists, to ensure the content reflects real-world challenges and current standards.
Questions we explored during the session
The recent session included a lively Q&A where attendees asked a wide range of practical questions. Here are just a few highlights:
What’s the difference between virtual training and eLearning?
Virtual training is delivered live, with a trainer and other learners present. It mirrors the experience of a classroom, just online. eLearning is self-directed — there’s no trainer present — and it can be done at your own pace, on your own time.
Is there risk management training for medical laboratories?
Yes — this is covered in our ISO 15189 Awareness Course, the Transition Course, and in a detailed eLearning module on risk management, which includes examples relevant to medical labs.
Can records for assessment purposes be kept electronically?
Absolutely, as long as the system you use is secure, controlled, and matches what you’ve documented in your quality system. We’re looking for reliable, retrievable records — not necessarily paper.
Are there learning pathways for newcomers to accreditation?
Yes — we offer a combination of free resources, eLearning, awareness courses and even application assistance packages to help you get started. If you’re not sure where to begin, Adam or I would be happy to help map out your options.
What’s next for the Academy?
We’re currently developing new materials around AI and digitalisation, to help prepare our customers for future challenges. We want training to not only reflect current standards — but anticipate what’s next.
Let’s keep the conversation going
Thank you to everyone who joined the session, asked a question, or contributed to the discussion. I hope you found it useful — and if you’re planning your next steps in learning, we’d love to hear from you.
You can reach our team at [email protected] or explore our current course offering at www.ukas.com/training-and-advisory.
Let’s stay connected — and continue learning together.
Rachel Boyer-Blanchard
Senior Commercial Training Specialist, UKAS Academy