Over 900 health, safety and environmental professionals reveal the biggest training and compliance challenges

Astutis, a leading global health, safety and environmental training provider, has published a new report revealing the key challenges and priorities facing HSE professionals in 2025. Based on responses from more than 900 learners, the findings highlight a profession at a crossroads – with training budgets on the rise, but cultural resistance and wellbeing concerns continuing to slow progress.

The report, “The Voice of Our Learners: 2025 Training Trends & HSE Management Challenges,” highlights significant developments in how safety professionals approach skills development and compliance in today’s rapidly changing environment.

Key findings:

• 49% of learners prefer self-paced eLearning, citing flexibility and accessibility as top motivators
• Mental health and wellbeing pressures are growing, with cultural blockers in many organisations impeding learning outcomes
• AI and wearable technology are sparking interest, yet adoption remains limited due to cost, complexity, and lack of leadership buy-in
• 91% of respondents say their organisations are prioritising sustainability training, marking a significant shift toward environmental responsibility
• While training budgets are on the rise, many professionals still feel a lack of strategic alignment between business goals and learning initiatives.

A wake-up call for the Industry

Steve Terry, managing director at Astutis, believes the findings reflect an industry eager to evolve but often restricted by structural and cultural constraints:

 "This year's report confirms that our industry is at a pivotal moment. On one hand, we see exciting new tools like AI and wearable tech emerging – but they're not yet taking hold in most organisations. On the other hand, long-standing challenges, such as gaining employee buy-in and addressing mental well-being, remain at the forefront. The opportunity for HSE leaders now is to blend innovative solutions with a people-centric approach so we can create safer, healthier, more sustainable workplaces for the future."

The report also uncovers critical insights into the types of training learners value most, preferred delivery methods, and where organisations are falling short in meeting evolving compliance demands.

With a clear emphasis on learner-first design and future-ready skills, Astutis is urging organisations to assess whether their current training models are equipped to meet the rising expectations of today’s workforce.

A strategic resource for HSE leaders

Whether you're responsible for training, compliance, L&D strategy, or organisational safety, the Astutis 2025 Learner Report delivers evidence-based guidance to support decision-making in the year ahead.

For more information, visit www.astutis.com