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Partnering with SME companies throughout East Anglia, Michelle Denny Recruitment is a recruitment agency which specialises in personalised recruitment consultancy services in Norfolk and Suffolk to help you discover that elusive new member of staff at a budget that suits you.

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With different campaign options to meet your requirements and innovative marketing strategies to captivate worthy candidates, we'll present you with a refreshing, no-fuss approach to recruitment. Whether you need a comprehensive recruitment drive with full support, or a simple campaign to find you candidates to review in-house, we'll work with you as an extension of your team, to understand your business and the people within it. 

Clients

THIS WAY TO HIRE

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We'll introduce you to companies with job opportunities across Norfolk, Suffolk and beyond that share your values and understand your career aspirations so you can feel confident in your job search. With guidance, support, constructive feedback and consistent communication as standard throughout our approach, Michelle Denny Recruitment Consultancy looks beyond your CV to discover what makes you, you!

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With a clear direction, straightforward application process and ongoing recommendations, we’ll provide you with the ultimate match-making service to help you find the right job, in the right company, with the right team. Learn more, view our current vacancies and upload your CV to register for upcoming roles too.

Candidates

THIS WAY TO A NEW JOB

Should You Go Back to Study? A Practical Guide to Upskilling and Career Growth

  • Michelle Denny
  • Sep 15
  • 4 min read

When people talk about “upskilling,” the conversation often jumps straight to formal qualifications: degrees, diplomas, or taking a career break to go back to study.


But that’s not the only route and it’s not always the right one.


Whether you’re considering a career move, looking for progression, or just want to feel more confident in your role, it’s worth exploring what learning looks like for you and whether you’re already sitting on opportunities you haven’t tapped into yet.


This isn’t about signing up for the sake of it. It’s about being intentional.

So… should you go back to study?


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Whether you’re considering a career move, looking for progression, or just want to feel more confident in your role, it’s worth exploring what learning looks like for you and whether you’re already sitting on opportunities you haven’t tapped into yet.


This isn’t about signing up for the sake of it. It’s about being intentional.

So… should you go back to study?


What does “going back to study” actually mean?


It doesn’t have to mean returning to full-time education or taking on a major financial commitment.


For some, it might be:

  • A one-year Level 3 or Level 5 qualification

  • Accredited training linked to your sector (e.g. CIPD, CMI, AAT)

  • A course to sharpen or refresh your technical skills

  • Attending workshops or webinars to stay current


For others, it might be internal: completing your company’s CPD framework, getting a new system accreditation, or joining an in-house programme that hasn’t been on your radar.


The key is: study should support the direction you want to go not just add another line on your CV.


Why are you thinking about it?


Before signing up to anything, take a step back and ask yourself: what do I want this to lead to?


Some common (and completely valid) reasons include:

  • You want to progress and know it’ll strengthen your case

  • You’re preparing for a career shift or pivot

  • You want more confidence in a changing market

  • You’ve hit a plateau and need something to stretch you

  • You love learning, and miss using your brain in that way


Whatever your reason, get clear on it. That clarity will help you decide what kind of study (if any) makes sense and how much time, money or energy you’re willing to give it.


Start where you are: what's already available to you?


Before you search externally, check what’s already on offer inside your business. You might be surprised.


  • Does your company have a CPD programme?

    If so, are you actively using it? Have you recorded or reflected on your development in the past year?


  • Is there budget available for external training?

    Many companies have funds allocated for professional development, but employees don’t always ask.


  • Are there in-house workshops or mentorship schemes you haven’t explored?

    Learning doesn’t have to come from a classroom. Experience-sharing, cross-training, and internal secondments can be just as valuable.


  • Have you spoken to your line manager or HR?

    They might already have ideas or frameworks that would give your development more structure.


Too often, people look elsewhere when there are opportunities within their current role or organisation, they just haven’t been made visible, or they haven’t asked.

 

Looking beyond: what’s out there?


If your current company doesn’t offer the development you’re looking for or you’re preparing for a move here’s what to consider:


Short-form and free learning

  • Explore the many platforms or other e-learning offerings.

  • Great for brushing up on digital skills, data, leadership, marketing, communication and more

  • Flexible and low-commitment ideal for fitting around work


Accredited professional development


  • E.g. ILM, AAT, CIPD, PRINCE2, CMI industry-recognised and often modular

  • Worth exploring if you’re seeking promotion, a career change, or credibility in a specific field

  • Many can be done part-time or online, and are eligible for payment plans or funding support


Local learning routes


  • Colleges and training providers in Norfolk and Suffolk offer adult learning, including sector-specific courses

  • Some employers partner with these providers ask around or research locally

  • Some roles may qualify for apprenticeship funding (yes, even for adults)


You don’t need to do all of it. You just need to choose what moves you forward.


The reality check: time, energy, ROI


Before you enrol, be honest with yourself:

  • Do I have the time and headspace for this?

  • How will this support the goals I’ve set?

  • What am I hoping this will lead to and is that realistic?

  • Am I motivated by growth, or just feeling stuck?


There’s nothing wrong with studying for the love of it. But if you’re making a big commitment, make sure it’s rooted in where you want to go next and not just a reaction to how you’re feeling now.


And remember study is only one way to grow. Learning happens in conversations, in stretch projects, in feedback, in mistakes, in mentoring others. You might be developing more than you realise.


Final thought


Going back to study can be transformative but only if it’s the right step, at the right time, for the right reasons.


Before you sign up for a course, check what’s already available where you are. Ask questions. Start conversations. You might have more access to development than you think.


And if you don’t? You’ll still be better placed to make an informed decision.


At Michelle Denny Recruitment, we don’t just match people to roles. We support people through their careers whether that’s planning your next step or helping you get more out of where you are now.

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