Soft skills important for graduates
Soft skills such as team working, good communication skills and the ability to appreciate others’ perspectives rank above academic qualifications, according to a survey of graduate recruiters.The study, by GRADdirect, part of Reed Consulting, found that over half of the organisations surveyed stated that graduate recruitment was key to building a greater pool of candidates […]
Stuck in a blog? Gearing up the training appetite
Blogging and Marmite have a lot in common; there’s little room for middle ground in a debate which finds that most either love it or hate it. But are the reluctant missing out? Annie Hayes reports from two very different camps. A marketing tool Training blog tasters Nelson Croom Sticky Training Janet Clarey Karyn Romeis […]
News round-up
Skills training comes to the fore this week following the announcement of the Conservative’s ‘Building Skills, Transforming Lives’ Green Paper, Skillnet joins the government’s apprenticeship task force for London, a report calls for a regional food training network to help plug the skills gap and a new study reveals line managers lack necessary interview skills […]
More line managers need interview skills training, says report
Only 30% of line managers receive any kind of interview training, but the majority want to contribute to the recruitment process, a report has revealed.The findings, collated by SHL, the talent assessment provider, found that despite line managers showing a desire to become involved in selection interviews to ensure candidates are the right fit, they […]
Report calls for regional food training network to help plug skills gap
Training providers offering courses in food and drink manufacturing could boost their businesses by joining forces on a region-by-region basis to deliver dedicated services to local employers, according to a new report.Research by The National Skills Academy (NSA) for Food and Drink Manufacturing in the north-east of England found that many food and drink companies […]
News round-up
A good week for skills training as David Lammy approves the new National Skills Academy for Retail and publishes the first draft Apprenticeship Bill; the government launches a new leadership assurance and benchmarking (LAB) service; and success beckons for female apprentices at this year’s Apprenticeship Awards. Read these stories and more in our weekly news […]
All change at TrainerBase
There have been some major changes at TrainerBase, the trade association for learning practitioners, resulting in five directors leaving the board.But according to founder and chief executive Peter Mayes the departures are neither a result of boardroom battles, nor extreme carelessness, but a simple restructure of the association.He said: “TrainerBase, in its current format, and […]
So long, cheerio, goodbye! How to write a memorable farewell message
It’s time to leave, you’re moving on. But how do you make your swansong a grand finale? Whether you are making a speech about yourself, or someone else, Lesley Morrissey has some great advice for your final message. You’ve been asked to sketch out a farewell message – and you’re probably thinking ‘why me?’. It […]
Free thinking: Winning hearts and minds
What’s the secret of really great presentations – the ones we remember long after the event, the ones that have the power to change our minds? The secret, says Martin Shovel, is to find out what makes your audience tick, and then ensure they trust you. Those of us who have to give presentations as […]
Bad dress sense could keep unemployed out of retail work
Poor appearance and ‘bad dress sense’ can prevent the long-term unemployed from getting back to work, according to researchers from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. A survey of 500 Manchester retailers showed that soft skills such as appearance were vital to employers, with 74% saying that that it was an important consideration when choosing […]
UK leads Europe in training, says survey
The UK is leading the way in training practices, is training more staff and has embraced more innovative methods than any other European country, according to a survey.The study was conducted by European training provider Cegos Group and questioned training managers from 1,000 companies across the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. It found […]
London to get £680m EU fund injection to help boost employment & skills
London is to receive £680 million of European Social Fund (ESF) investment funding to tackle unemployment, provide skills and reduce crime and violence.The new seven-year London European Social fund (ESF) programme, which is to be administered by London mayor Boris Johnson and directed by the London Development Agency, will provide support to hundreds of projects […]
Ask the expert: Brainstorming – offensive or not?
Do we really need to refer to a session where we’re kicking around ideas as a ‘thought shower’? Isn’t that over sensitive and just too PC? What do the experts advise? Earlier this year Adrian Frederick asked on our Any Answers forum: Is the word ‘brainstorm’ now considered to be an offensive word? And should […]
Comment: Give graduates intelligent training and support
Demand for graduates has never been greater. But in order for them to transform from ‘bum student’ to working professional, they need training and support, says Gemma Middleton. The end of the academic year is fast approaching and for thousands of students completing their degrees, job hunting will be the next task on their agendas. […]
BILD conference highlights the power of elearning
The British Institute of Learning and Development’s (BILD) conference on engagement highlighted the growing importance of elearning.Held at Centrepoint in London on 12 June, the conference looked at a number of topics centred on engagement in learning, focusing on the growing impact of the internet on training and development methods.In his opening speech, chairman Jack […]
British Energy’s new state of the art academy is all charged up
British Energy’s new state of the art, £3.5m Nuclear Power Academy is up and running.The Academy, based at Barnwood, Gloucestershire, has developed a British Energy model for accreditation of training, incorporating best practice in the industry. In the coming months British Energy will be taking a proactive part in its membership of the recently launched […]
Smashing the glass ceiling: Women’s Week launches in Norwich
A week-long series of courses geared towards women in business is being held at the National Skills Academy for Financial Services in Norwich this week (9-13 June).The programme will feature seminars and workshops on topics ranging from returning to work, breaking through the glass ceiling and overcoming confidence issues. The event is geared towards women […]
Lack of work-readiness prompts project to establish best practice
Increasing concerns by employers about the skills gap of new recruits has prompted the launch of a new project aimed at boosting employability skills across the UK.The project, led by the new UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), hopes to highlight best practice in teaching teamwork, problem-solving, numeracy and literacy in addition to a […]
Denham says act now to plug skills gap
Skills secretary John Denham has urged employers to act to prevent skills shortages as he announced the fourth competitive bidding round for National Skills Academies. Mr Denham warned of the dangers of missed opportunities for thousands of workers in key sectors of the economy where the country is facing looming skills shortages and urged employers […]
Most successful year ever, says engineering construction training board
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), an organisation dedicated to attracting, training and retaining employees in engineering construction, has hailed 2007 as its most successful year to-date. The industry currently generates a £16b turnover, equating to 1.5 per cent of the UK’s GDP. A total of £18.8m was invested by the ECITB last year […]
