In the UK alone, economic crime drains at least £8.4 billion annually, while public sector fraud alone costs up to £49 billion. 

That’s enough to fund sweeping reforms… or a powerful anti-corruption learning programme.

Corruption isn’t just a buzzword or a shady, obscure phenomenon reserved for politicians. It’s a real and present risk for every organisation, including yours. 

It’s no wonder that for L&D professionals, this topic is rapidly moving up the agenda.

Should you be prioritising anti-corruption training? What does it entail? And what’s the cost of neglecting it?

Let’s unpack the case for anti-corruption training, and why it might be time to put it on your radar.

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Why corruption is everyone’s problem

Corruption isn’t limited to envelopes of cash under the table. 

It also shows up in seemingly small, everyday business decisions: favouritism in procurement, conflicts of interest, questionable hospitality, or loose controls around third-party relationships.

As we alluded to at the start of this blog, it’s easy to put a black-and-white figure on the financial cost of corruption – and that’s certainly a very good deterrent. But the less visible costs, like damage to your company’s reputation, are just as terrifying.

Let’s rewind to the year 2009, shall we? The jeans were skinny, the shirts were plaid, and the glasses had the thickest frames you’ve ever seen (non-prescription, of course.) 

Meanwhile, the global financial crisis raged on – collapsing banks, forcing millions of people into unemployment, and famously bursting the property bubble.

In the midst of all this, British engineering firm Mabey & Johnson admitted to systematically bribing Iraqi officials to secure contracts. The consequences were severe — more than £6.5 million in fines and reparations, jail sentences for key directors, and most of all, permanent damage to the company’s standing. 

Once respected for building bridges and infrastructure, they became a cautionary tale of how corruption, even when hidden overseas, can destroy reputation and trust at home. Unsurprisingly, the company later liquidated.

This is just one example of what can happen if corruption is allowed to fly under the radar. It might seem catastrophic to draw the line between training and a £6.5 million fine, but L&D is a crucial element of avoiding these consequences.

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The regulatory landscape is tightening

One of the strongest cases for anti-corruption training is compliance. Legislation in this space has become more aggressive in recent years.

In the UK, the Bribery Act 2010 sets out strict offences for both individuals and organisations, including a corporate offence for failing to prevent bribery. Crucially, the only defence for businesses is to show they had “adequate procedures” in place to prevent it. That means policies, systems… and, you guessed it, training.

Internationally, frameworks like the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention put similar emphasis on proactive prevention. For global companies (or those with overseas clients, suppliers, or subsidiaries) anti-corruption training is completely essential.

And with upcoming reforms to the UK’s corporate criminal liability laws through the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, scrutiny around corporate governance and internal training is only going to increase.

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L&D’s opportunity to make a difference

Let’s be honest: mandatory compliance training often gets a bad rep. (Boring… Box-ticking… Forgotten by lunchtime.)

But this is where L&D teams can make a real difference. 

Done well, anti-corruption training goes beyond risk avoidance and embeds ethical behaviour in your organisation, empowering your employees to do the right thing.

It’s also an opportunity to connect ethics to your organisation’s values. When employees understand why (not just what) they’re more likely to take ownership. 

And that cultural shift is far more powerful than any policy on paper.

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What should anti-corruption training cover?

An effective anti-corruption learning programme goes beyond definitions and legal jargon. It should bring scenarios to life, and give learners the tools to act on red flags when they spot them.

Here are some core topics to consider:

• What corruption looks like – From obvious bribes to subtle conflicts of interest
• Types of misconduct – Kickbacks, facilitation payments, nepotism, collusion
• Gifts and hospitality – What’s acceptable and where lines are crossed
• Third-party risks – Suppliers, agents, intermediaries
• Whistleblowing – How to report concerns and what protections are in place
• Real-world case studies – Scenarios that reflect your sector and risk profile

Make it relatable. Make it practical. And, if possible, make it interactive — whether that’s through branching scenarios, discussion prompts, or role-based examples. 

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Who needs anti-corruption training?

The short answer to this question is, well, everyone. 

But the depth and focus of this training can – and should – vary depending on role and risk level. Here’s what we mean:

• All employees should understand what corruption is, how it shows up in your context, and how to report it.
• Managers need to know how to role model ethical decision-making, support their teams, and escalate concerns.
• High-risk roles (such as sales, procurement, finance or anyone dealing with third parties) need tailored, in-depth training relevant to their responsibilities.
• Senior leaders and board members must understand their obligations under the law and the importance of visible commitment.

The goal is to create an organisation-wide understanding, with enhanced focus where it matters most.

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How often should you train?

Anti-corruption training shouldn’t be a one-and-done induction module. Risks evolve. People move roles. Laws change.

Best practice suggests:

• A core module during onboarding
• Refreshers every 12–24 months
• Bite-sized updates when legislation changes or incidents occur
  Scenario-based workshops or discussions for high-risk teams

Think of it as part of your wider ethics and compliance ecosystem — alongside policies, reporting tools, audits, and leadership behaviour.

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Signs your organisation might need to act now

Still unsure if anti-corruption training is necessary for your organisation? 

Look out for these red flags:

• You operate in industries or regions with higher corruption risk (e.g. construction, mining, pharmaceuticals, or certain emerging markets)
• You lack clear policies on gifts, expenses, or supplier selection
• Employees have raised concerns but don’t know where to go
• There’s a culture of silence or fear around reporting misconduct
• You’ve grown quickly and your controls haven’t kept up
• You’re tendering for public contracts or working with government bodies

Any of the above is a signal to review your risk profile… and ensure your L&D provision reflects it.

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Where learning tech can help

Rolling out impactful anti-corruption training doesn’t need to be a logistical nightmare. The right learning platform can support:

• Targeted delivery – Tailor content by role, region or risk level
• Version control – Keep policies and modules up to date
• Tracking and reporting – Evidence compliance with audit trails
• User generated content – Capture real examples and insights from across your business
• Auto curation – Serve up timely, contextual learning nudges

By embedding anti-corruption content into your wider learning ecosystem, you’re reinforcing behaviours regularly, not just once a year.

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Prevention is powerful

Corruption thrives in silence. Training helps give employees a voice.

For L&D leaders, anti-corruption training is a real opportunity to shape ethical culture and protect your people from making career-limiting mistakes – sometimes without even realising it.

So, should you be implementing anti-corruption training?

If you want to strengthen your culture and stay ahead of tightening regulations, the answer is yes. And there’s no better time to start than now. Browse Thrive Content’s modules on anti-corruption, or book a demo to see how the Thrive learning platform can help you build a better culture.

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