Despite employers spending some £4.5bn on training, only half of employees are benefiting, according to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).
The claim comes as the LSC launches a new guide to training and development that aims to help employers invest wisely in the skills they need for their business.
Commissioned by the LSC and Institute of Directors (IoD), the guide shows directors how to use the training support available to them to improve the motivation and productivity of their staff.
Skills: Transforming Business recommends that companies:
• Develop a skills strategy to develop the skills that are lacking in your workplace
• Introduce a mentoring system to enable senior employees to share their skills and experience with junior staff
• Use shadowing techniques so that new members of staff spend the early part of their employment watching and learning from a more experienced colleague
• Use funding from the Government's Employer Training Pilots, which have benefited more than 13,000 employers and 90,000 employees
• Involve trade unions who can use their influence to encourage learning at work and access financial support through the Union Learning Fund
• Look out for qualifications that have been developed by and for your industry, such as the Information Technology Qualification (ITQ)
The guide also offers practical advice such as how to carry out a skills audit and attract new talent.
Copies of Skills: Transforming Business will be available to download from the LSC website.
