According to a recent survey by Huddersfield based consultants Birkby Lancaster, Best Practice organisations in the UK spend well above the average on training and development. Across the UK, spending on T & D dropped to 1.5% of salary last year, from £474 per person to £305 per person. This is less than half the average spend in many other countries in Europe.

In a survey completed in December 2001, winners of the UK Excellence and regional Excellence Yorkshire awards were asked what percentage of pay was allocated to the development of employees. The survey was conducted across manufacturing, service, utility and public sectors. The results were remarkably consistent. Best practice organisations spend almost 3% of salary on training and developing their employees, twice as much as the UK average.

What do you think an average training spend should be, as percentage of salary? Post your comments below