The training spend survey: The real news
A third of employers in England did not provide any training at all to their staff over a 12 month period and 37% of all employees received no training at all. Those are the real headlines of the Learning and Skills Council’s review of investment in training, says the TUC.The TUC decided to take a […]
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Leadership expert John Fay starts an Apprentice blog today. The candidates must reassess their skills after last week’s performance, he says, and realise that being a strong leader isn’t always enough to win favour with Sir Alan. Sir Alan Sugar was left with no other option than to fire two contestants on last week’s Apprentice.We […]
Southampton boosts business with ‘welcome’ training
More than 200 frontline staff from different local businesses in Southampton have undertaken a new training scheme to help improve the visitor experience in the city.The ‘Southampton Welcomes’ training programme is designed to help participants improve their customer service skills, in order to help visitors make the most of their stay. Sue Gill, Head of […]
Skillnet bags national Ford apprentice scheme
Skillnet, a training provider for the automotive industry, has clinched a deal to manage the Ford Masters Apprenticeship Programme (FMAP) which already has more than 1,000 apprentices signed up for the three-year course. Students will receive on-the-job training, provided by dealerships across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, with local and residential college tuition. Lee […]
Leitch inquiry holds evidence session in Leeds
The Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee is hearing evidence on lifelong learning next week, as part of its inquiry into the effects of the Leitch report. The Committee will visit Leeds on Wednesday for an evidence session where issues raised by the inquiry will be discussed with organisations involved in the development and delivery […]
Deloitte initiative offers skills boost to young people
Thousands of young people are set to benefit from a new workplace training programme created by Deloitte.The Deloitte Employability Initiative has committed £2m funding over a five-year period to help 16-19 year olds develop the skills, attitudes and behaviours required to secure and sustain employment. The courses are the firm’s flagship community education programme and […]
I’m a trainer, get me out of here!
It’s always a bit of a gamble turning up to a training venue – what if the equipment fails or the participants would blatantly rather be somewhere else? Louise Druce finds out. Not every training event is going to be pitch perfect but what do you do when you turn up to find the plush […]
Very inexperienced adult learners
Hi, can anyone give me any advice as to what kind of training I could give to a group of adults who have not had any experience in training since school or very little. Thanks Sarah Price Hi, can anyone give me any advice as to what kind of training I could give to a […]
Veolia Environnement named Employer of the Year
Veolia Environnement has been named Employer of the Year at this year’s National Employer Service Learners First awards.The company was singled out for its contribution to workplace learning, beating off fierce competition from the other finalist employers, who included TUI Travel and the Royal Navy. Veolia Environnement’s commitment to training involves its purpose-designed and operated […]
Ask the expert: Dealing with difficult delegates
How do you deal with delegates who behave like seven year olds having tantrums? Andy Bradbury gives some advice. Question: I recently did a training session where two participants were told that they had to attend because of their behaviour. Right from the start they were disruptive, argumentative and would not participate in any activity. […]
Broadcasters in training awards league of their own
Broadcast companies have until 25 April to take advantage of an awards opportunity that celebrates training excellence within the audiovisual industries.That’s the deadline for firms to enter this year’s National Training Awards (NTA) – including the broadcast category, the only sector-specific accolade within the awards programme.The National Training Awards – run by UK Skills on […]
Hosing down the flames: The art of email etiquette
Think twice before you hit the send button to email and post comments on sites, says writing skills trainer Giulia De Cesare, if you can read it in a sarcastic tone of voice, chances are others will too. And before you know it, you’ve got a major slanging match online. “Email is no longer simply […]
British Computing Society is letting the IT community down
The British Computing Society (BCS) must urgently revamp its strategy for supporting the UK’s IT professionals, or accept it no longer has a place in today’s industry, says the IT Training Company of the Year. Firebrand Training, which has been the UK’s IT Training Company of the Year for the past three years, is concerned […]
High tech, low carbon colleges to train 21st Century workers
A £2bn strategy to develop new low carbon colleges marks a radical new approach to the delivery of public buildings, John Denham the secretary of state for Innovation and Skills has announced. For the first time, contracts will be required to spell out how they will deliver on-site apprenticeships and work-based learning. Building Colleges for […]
Opinion: What’s in your development tool box?
As with any DIY project you need the right tools, and managing your own development is no different, says Andrew Mayo. Ensure you have the right training culture behind you, personal expectations and knowledge and skills, he advises, to avoid a DIY disaster. One of today’s familiar mantras is to say to employees that ‘we […]
Free thinking: How to become a charismatic speaker
If you’ve ever sat through a tedious, rambling speech and wished you could wave a magic wand and turn the speaker into a charismatic, engaging one, Martin Shovel’s article will strike a chord. In extreme cases – I’m thinking of Gerald Ratner’s infamous ‘total crap’ speech – it has been known for a chief executive […]
McQualifications: Would you like some perspective with that?
There was widespread derision when three private sector companies announced they had been granted the right to award their own nationally recognised qualifications, the majority centred on McDonalds. Matt Henkes discards the McJoke headlines and looks at the facts. The dust has barely settled on the media outcry following the announcement that McDonalds was among […]
Free thinking: Out of the mouths of babes
We’ve a lot to learn from children about the simplicity of language, so use those high brow ‘impressive’ phrases in your next report or presentation at your peril. As Martin Shovel explains, less is definitely more. In the Marx brothers’ film, Duck Soup, there’s a scene in which Rufus T. Firefly (played by Groucho […]
Is the McDegree Next on the Menu?
A new not-for-profit consultancy is launching in March to assist employers wanting to develop their own higher-level qualifications.HE@Work will help organisations develop their in-house training programmes to meet the standards required by higher education institutions. Instead of being restricted to a company-specific qualification, employees will be awarded recognised and transferable higher education credit within an […]
Back to Basics: Good Handouts
What makes a good handout? What should you avoid? And are the days of paper handouts numbered in our waste-conscious, electronic age? Dawn Smith investigates. Handouts present trainers with some nice dilemmas. For example, there’s the thorny issue of how much to give out and in what form. For usability and eco-friendliness, a trainer may […]
