When Video Arts was founded in the 1970s, workplace learning looked very different. Few people could have predicted just how much the world of work, and the way we learn at work, would change over the decades that followed.
What has remained constant is the need for learning that works. Learning that reflects real behaviour, keeps pace with change and evolves alongside the workplace itself. Believe it or not, we get people asking about training films they remember from years ago (DVD and even VHS versions!), which says less about the format and more about the impact.
Read on to discover how Video Arts came to be, how we’ve managed to stick around and what we do in the current learning and development industry (AKA what we do for L&D professionals and learners alike).
Where It All Began
Video Arts was born in 1972, not in a corporate skyscraper but in a West London terrace house. A small group of television professionals believed workplace learning could be more human and far more effective. Among them were two giants of British comedy: John Cleese and Sir Antony Jay.
Our early productions looked nothing like the corporate training films of the time. Instead of presentations packed with long lists of rules and procedures, Video Arts focused on behaviour-led learning: we showed the awkward conversations, miscommunication, and the everyday moments at work that people recognised instantly, even if they would rather not admit it.
Iconic Content, Evolving Workplace Learning
Learning has never been a static thing. Workplace training has shapeshifted over the years, responding to new technologies, changing expectations and the occasional collective groan of learners everywhere. From classroom sessions to VHS and DVD, then into eLearning and blended approaches, the industry has continually searched for better ways to help people actually remember what they are taught.
The debate about what works best still rumbles on. Online or in person. Self-paced or facilitated. The reality, as research increasingly shows, is that learning works best when it is designed with intention rather than allegiance to a single format.
At Video Arts, we have adapted right alongside these shifts. We started with analogue films and now offer a flexible digital learning library that fits into modern organisations without causing unnecessary headaches. From embeddable learning content to our AI chatbot, the goal has stayed the same; Make learning that lands, fits around real work, and supports behaviour change rather than just ticking a completion box.
How We Deliver Workplace Learning Today
The short answer is there’s no one way! Our delivery methods vary to accommodate different organisations’ learning needs.
This includes:
- Video Arts Play is our LMS, launched last year. Built to make learning engaging, scalable and easy for L&D teams to manage.
- Learning on demand gives teams access to world-class training videos whenever they need them.
- The AI chatbot offers learners personalised, judgement-free support to practise conversations, explore scenarios and reinforce learning.
- We provide embedded learning, using iFrames, QR codes and integrations so our content can live directly inside your existing courses and platforms.
We offer over 400 resources to support learning strategies, but delivery is only one part of the equation.
What People Are Learning, Not Just How
Alongside evolving how learning is delivered, we have continually built content that reflects the real challenges organisations face.
Over time, this has grown into nine core collections in our Learning Library, covering the skills HR and L&D teams are most often asked to develop:
- Leadership
- Management & Talent
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Diversity, Inclusion and Equality
- Customer Service & Sales
- Health, Safety & Compliance
- Workplace Skills
- Conversations, Coaching and Mentoring
- Hybrid and Cross-Cultural Communication
Each collection is built around realistic scenarios that help people recognise behaviour, understand impact, and explore better ways of working.
Building Wellbeing as an Organisational Capability
Workplace pressure is not new, but expectations around how organisations support people have changed. Mental health and wellbeing are now closely tied to performance, engagement and retention, placing them firmly within L&D strategy.
We have expanded our Mental Health and Wellbeing collection with new Stress and Resilience Essentials, helping organisations build shared understanding around pressure, stress responses and recovery.
Alongside this, our Resilience Playbook supports HR and L&D teams in developing resilience as an organisational capability, not simply helping individuals cope, but shaping systems, behaviours and expectations that make resilience sustainable across teams.
Built to Change With the Industry
Learning trends will continue to shift. Platforms will evolve. New challenges will emerge.
Video Arts has been around for this long because we know how to adapt while staying focused on what HR and L&D teams need most. Learning that reflects real behaviour.
From John Cleese to AI-supported learning, the thread remains the same. Turning insight into impact and creating workplace learning that genuinely works.
If your learning plans for the year ahead could use a little less box-ticking and a lot more impact, get in touch. We are always happy to talk about learning, old favourites, and what comes next.
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