Why We Host Learning Lunches at Clarion

At Clarion, we believe that a continuous learning culture strongly contributes to creating a workplace where people feel motivated, supported, and connected. One of the ways we bring this to life is through our Learning Lunches: regular sessions where we come together to share knowledge (or listen to a guest speaker), learn something new, and connect over a shared experience. 

Over 95% of people at Clarion say our in-person events, such as Learning Lunches are good, very good or excellent. Here’s why these sessions matter to us. 

Nurturing a Culture of Continuous Learning

Learning shouldn’t be reserved for training courses or infrequent workshops. It should be part of the everyday. That’s why Learning Lunches have become an important part of our approach to learning and development at Clarion. 

These sessions encourage curiosity and create space for people to explore topics outside of their usual roles, including outside of the business, and encourage our people to grow both personally and professionally. Whether it’s a session on Burnout Prevention, Change, or a guest speaker from CyNam talking on the wider Tech industry in Cheltenham (where Clarion are based), the variety keeps things fresh and relevant.  

Catherine, a Designer at Clarion, shared that: 

“The Learning Lunches are a great way to not only stop and take a breather in our busy schedules but also allow us to learn more about new topics or areas of the business that we typically wouldn’t have knowledge of.” 

As part of our People Value Proposition, we’re committed to investing in our people. We know that when employees feel supported in their development, they’re more likely to feel satisfied at work and engaged in what they do. 

Building a Supportive and Inclusive Culture

Learning is powerful not just for what it teaches, but for how it brings people together. Research from Mental Health UK shows that loneliness is a common issue in the workplace.  

One in five workers feeling lonely on a typical day. Learning Lunches are one way we help tackle this.  

Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by boosting self-confidence, raising self-esteem and helping you to connect with others. By encouraging people to come into the office on the same day and participate in a shared activity, we create more opportunities for connection and conversation.  

In addition, sessions on the topic of mental health and wellbeing, like our Learning Lunch delivered by a guest speaker from CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably, a charity for suicide prevention) have helped us all reflect on how important it is to check in with each other and look out for one another. Learning together gives people a shared language and a starting point for conversations that might otherwise feel difficult, especially around mental health. It helps break down silos and makes it easier for people to feel seen, heard, and supported. 

"I really enjoyed the CALM session. It was both powerful and thought-provoking. It was a meaningful reminder of how important it is to check in with one another, even on the busiest days."– Ella, Consultant. 

Encouraging Collaboration and Community

Learning Lunches are an excellent way to help colleagues feel seen and valued within the business, while also promoting a better understanding of each other’s roles and current projects. Often, we don’t realise the breadth of expertise already within the organisation until someone shares their story, project, or insight. These sessions are not only great for fostering cross-departmental connections, but they also contribute to more effective collaboration. By gaining insight into each other’s workflows and challenges, we can work more efficiently across diverse teams. 

A great example of this was a Learning Lunch led by our Strategic and Creative Communications team. They introduced their updated service proposition and brought it to life through a scenario-based simulation exercise. This session helped colleagues across the business gain a clearer understanding of what the communications team does, how we work, and how we approach projects. 

“Hearing from colleagues who you don’t cross paths with every day is invaluable. The perspectives they bring from their own work help me think about different ways to tackle challenges on the projects I’m involved with. When you’re running a session yourself, you often learn just as much as if you were attending and participating.” James, Communications Specialist.

In Summary

We see Learning Lunches as a meaningful way to support learning, connection, and wellbeing. They reflect who we are and our values: trust, tolerance, and teamwork, as well as our strong belief that people make the biggest difference.

These are just a few highlights from recent Learning Lunches and we have more exciting sessions planned for the rest of 2025. From discussions on the impact of our projects and the latest innovations in tech, to sessions on neurodiversity, we remain committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.