Recruiter Calls for ‘Resilience Training’ to be Added to National Curriculum

The Head of Learning and Development at one of the UK’s top recruiters is calling for ‘resilience training’ to be added to the national curriculum amid a rise in young people being off long-term sick at work and a growing segment of young people who are not in any form of education or training. Gi Group UK’s Emma-Louise Taylor says equipping school-aged children with a better understanding of how their minds work under pressure could play a critical role in longer term workforce stability.

Emma-Louise, who leads learning, development, and equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives across the business believes current education systems place too much emphasis on academic achievement while overlooking the human side – what has become commonly known as the ‘softer skills’ – of development.

“We need those core subjects of Maths and English, for example,” Emma-Louise said, “but understanding how our brains work, how we respond to stress and how we build resilience should also be basic learning requirements and we believe should be in-built in to the national curriculum – with clear learning modules and outcomes in place.”

Her comments come as new research from Simplyhealth highlights the growing impact of mental ill-health on the workforce. The study found that ill mental health is now the leading cause of long-term absence and the second leading cause of short term absence in the UK. Nearly a third (30%) of employees reported experiencing depression or anxiety in the past year, while a further 25% experienced stress or burnout. Those impacted took an average of seven sick days annually.

The data also reveals a stark picture among younger workers. Around one in five 18-34-year-olds report taking time off in the past year due to anxiety or depression (20%) and stress or burnout (21%). On average, those experiencing anxiety or depression took 5.5 days off work, while stress and burnout accounted for a further 3.8 days of absence.

Emma-Louise says that these challenges could be mitigated earlier in life through education. “People often think stress or self-doubt is something we can fix later,” she said. “But these are natural human responses. If we taught young people why they feel this way, and what’s happening neurologically, they’d be far better equipped to manage it.”

At Gi Group UK, Emma-Louise has already implemented neuroscience-based training programmes designed to help employees understand their emotional responses to change. These sessions explain concepts such as fight-or-flight responses and how subconscious triggers influence behaviour, particularly during periods of transition or transformation.

“Rather than telling people, ‘don’t be stressed’, we explain why stress happens. It normalises the experience. From there, people can start to consciously challenge their reactions instead of operating on autopilot.”

Emma-Louise has been at the forefront of embedding resilience mindset training into various other DEI initiatives Gi Group operates from neurodiversity training through to LGBTQIA+ resources and those aimed at women’s health for phases of life such as menopause.

“For me, it’s about proactivity rather than being reactive,” she said. “If people understand their triggers, they can anticipate challenges and manage them before they escalate. That’s where real resilience is built.”

Beyond the formal training, the company has introduced a range of initiatives to support psychological safety and inclusion across the business. These include “Let’s Talk” webinars on topics such as confidence and imposter syndrome, as well as “Thrive Passport” that allows employees to share personal preferences and needs with managers.

“When people feel safe and understood, they perform better.” Emma-Louise said, “They’re more innovative, more engaged, and more likely to stay. From a commercial perspective, reducing absence and improving productivity is a huge win for everybody in the business.”

It’s not just younger workers who are being affected. Simplyhealth’s data shows that around one in 10 35-54-year-olds report taking time off for anxiety or depression (13%) and stress or burnout (10%) in the past year. However older workers tend to take significantly longer periods of absence, averaging 8.3 days off for anxiety and depression and 8.5 day for stress or burnout.

Emma-Louise believes that embedding resilience and emotional awareness into education across the board could help change this trajectory. “It’s not about saying everything will be fine. We need to understand ourselves better and move through challenges with confidence. It’s a skill everybody should have but I think the evidence shows we’re lacking education and guidance in these areas.”

Gi Group UK is headquartered in Chesterfield in the Midlands. Parented by Gi Group Holding, Gi Group UK employs close to 500 people in 2026 from 17 hub locations. Working across manufacturing, logistics, food and drink and many other sectors, Gi Group UK is uniquely committed to the creation of social and economic value for both employers and candidates alike.