Whilst current UK government skills offerings were initially focused on options for young people, lifelong learning policies are now emerging through a framework of individuals learning ‘at a time that is right for them’ (Gov.uk, 2025). However, whilst there is a rich literature on traditional student development, less is known about the benefits that ‘upskilling’ brings to learners already situated in the workplace. This paper shines a light on how individuals gain from embarking on and complet