The State of L&D Maturity Report

About the L&D Maturity Model

Developed by David James, Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, drawing from analysis of thousands of L&D functions and conversations with hundreds of global leaders. The model assesses seven core themes of L&D capability on a five-level scale. And now we’ve updated the assessment to reflect where L&D stands heading into 2027. The profession keeps changing — what "good" looks like, what leadership expects, and what's newly possible with AI-driven workflows — and our tools need to keep pace with it.

If you haven't taken the updated assessment yet, now's a good time to.

Take the updated L&D Maturity Model assessment

In their own words: The Maturity Model experience

"At last! A real maturity model that is easy to apply and understand in this world of work." — Simon Gibson, Head of Talent, Center Parcs UK

"The 360 Maturity Model was an excellent tool for reflecting on our journey, from the early stages to where we stand today. It provided a structured approach to assess our progress and achievements, helping us to recognise just how far we've come. Engaging with the expert from 360Learning was an added bonus, as it allowed us to view our journey within a broader context. We rarely have the opportunity to step back and evaluate our performance on a larger scale, and the maturity model conversation brought fresh perspectives and thought-provoking insights." — Barbara Swat, L&D Manager, Edwardian

"For what it's worth, I am finding this process extremely valuable. 360's maturity model was introduced to me at a pivotal moment for our L&D strategy. I'm the Global L&D Lead of a 250-strong workforce, and a one-person team to boot. I knew the issues I was facing, but in an abstract way, and I was struggling to define what success looked like for us. In the course of one call, Kathryn saved me. With her professional guidance, I was able to pinpoint solid objectives and the actionables needed to achieve them. Together we formulated a plan I could get started on immediately. Absolute gold dust." — Cyan Jordan, Global L&D Lead, Beyond Retro

"The L&D maturity model has made its way into a lot of our L&D team meeting discussions. We're always thinking of ways we can move from impactful to strategic and transformational." — Eddie Dunn, Learning & Development Specialist, Equinox

"The 360Learning maturity model assessment and consultancy has really helped me to develop our L&D strategy. Having a conversation with a trusted L&D expert to dig into the different maturity criteria helped both to challenge my thinking and to appreciate our L&D maturity in the context of other organizations. We clearly established where we are now and where we are aiming for, and identified actions and recommendations to get there. It also helped me frame internal conversations with my CHRO and CEO with a view to gaining stronger alignment, increased maturity, and therefore delivering L&D strategically and beyond." — Jo Morton, Director of L&D, MMR

"It is often said L&Ders need to move towards strategic transformation in a business. It is easier said than done. This Maturity Model helps learning professionals identify where their organization is on the journey to transformative learning practice. The lenses offered in this model support moving forward, with a particular emphasis on skills, which is a hot topic, for sure. David James and his team are challenging practitioners to truly understand where they are and where they need to get to in terms of maturity. The process of successful growth starts with reflection and benchmarking, and this is just the tool you need for that." — Michelle Parry Slater, Head of L&D, author of The Learning & Development Handbook

"This model corresponds exactly to what we've tried to do internally: it will let us compare our results and define a clear roadmap for the year ahead." — Valérie Benoît, Corporate HR Development Director, Manutan

About 360Learning

360Learning is the AI-driven enterprise LMS that closes skills gaps by capturing internal expertise with Collaborative Learning Academies. Over 2,500 companies trust 360Learning. Rated #1 AI LMS by eLearning Industry.