Free CPD-Accredited Course Equips Professionals to Lead Agile Teams and Deliver Real Results
Alison has launched a new CPD-accredited course: Scrum Master Agile Leadership Essentials. This free online course equips professionals with the practical skills to lead Scrum teams, run sprint cycles, manage backlogs, and guide organisations through agile transformation — with confidence. Reviewed by Adil Tiskaoui, a certified Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) and industrial and supply chain engineer, the course is designed as a solid launchpad for anyone working towards Scrum Master certification or stepping into an agile leadership role for the first time.
The course covers Scrum from the ground up: the core roles of Scrum Master, Product Owner, and development team; sprint planning, review, and retrospective ceremonies; backlog refinement and prioritisation; managing conflict and protecting team focus; risk identification; and scaling Scrum across larger, more complex projects. Practical and jargon-light, it is built around real team challenges rather than abstract theory.
The World Has Gone Agile — and the Skills Gap Is Growing
Agile is no longer a methodology confined to software development. According to the annual State of Agile Report, over 80% of organisations now use Agile practices in some form, and Scrum consistently accounts for more than half of all Agile implementations globally. The demand has spread across finance, marketing, healthcare, manufacturing, and government — anywhere that teams need to deliver value faster, adapt to change, and reduce the cost of getting things wrong.
Yet the supply of skilled Scrum practitioners has not kept pace with demand. The Project Management Institute has projected a need for 25 million new project professionals globally by 2030, with Agile skills among the most cited gaps. For the many professionals currently managing projects through spreadsheets, status meetings, and email chains, the shift to Scrum can feel opaque and intimidating without the right foundation. The result is teams that adopt the language of Agile — sprints, standups, retrospectives — without the understanding that makes those practices actually work.
Why Scrum Mastery Should Be Accessible to Everyone
Mike Feerick, Founder and CEO of Alison, stated: "Agile transformation is happening in organisations of every size and sector, and the people best placed to lead it are not always those with the most expensive certifications — they are the people who genuinely understand how Scrum works and why. We want to give anyone, anywhere, the foundation they need to step into that role and make a real difference to their team."
This launch strengthens Alison's portfolio of project management and professional development courses, supporting learners worldwide who want to build in-demand skills that translate directly into better careers and better-functioning organisations.
To learn more or enrol in the course, visit: alison.com/course/scrum-master-agile-leadership-essentials
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About Alison
Alison is a global leader in free online learning and skills development. With over 50 million registered learners across 193 countries (as of October 2025), Alison empowers individuals, communities, and organisations to upskill quickly and effectively – at zero cost.
The Alison platform provides immediate access to over 6,000 free, CPD-accredited courses, covering essential areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Business Operations, Healthcare and Sustainability. Courses are created by a mix of independent experts and global leaders, including IBM, Stanford and Microsoft.
For organisations, Alison offers a Free Learning Management System (LMS) that enables unlimited learners to access thousands of courses with no upfront cost. A premium version with advanced analytics and customisation is also available. Alison's offering includes a full suite of assessments and psychometric tools, including a Workplace Personality Assessment, Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment, English Language Proficiency Test, as well as Numerical, Verbal, and Abstract Reasoning tests.
To further support career development, learners also gain access to a Career Guide, a Resumé Builder, and the ability to study offline through the Alison App. The platform is also expanding its reach with multilingual versions, starting with complete Spanish, French, and Hindi offerings — reaffirming its mission to make education accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Founded in 2007, Alison pioneered the concept of free, large-scale online learning and is recognised as the world’s first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform. Today, its mission continues: to break down barriers to learning, helping people gain skills, build confidence, and improve their lives — no matter where they live or what they earn.
