Businesses to increase training spend in 2004

Nearly half of all SMEs intend to increase their training budget for 2004, according to new research.

The Business Achiever Report by learndirect also found that nearly all – 97% – of employers believed that training had a direct impact on business performance.

There were indications of a feel-good factor spreading through business: 60% of SMEs believed that their business was performing better than 12 months ago, and 43% felt that the economic outlook was getting brighter.

And e-learning looks set to increase according to the survey, with almost twice as many managers recognising the benefits of e-learning compared to last year – 45% in 2003 compared to 23% in 2002.

However, there was still room for improvement, one quarter of SMEs admitted that they didn’t spend enough on training to maintain and develop their businesses.

Nearly half of all SMEs intend to increase their training budget for 2004, according to new research.

The Business Achiever Report by learndirect also found that nearly all - 97% - of employers believed that training had a direct impact on business performance.

There were indications of a feel-good factor spreading through business: 60% of SMEs believed that their business was performing better than 12 months ago, and 43% felt that the economic outlook was getting brighter.

And e-learning looks set to increase according to the survey, with almost twice as many managers recognising the benefits of e-learning compared to last year - 45% in 2003 compared to 23% in 2002.

However, there was still room for improvement, one quarter of SMEs admitted that they didn’t spend enough on training to maintain and develop their businesses.