Consultation Begins on the Future of IT Skills
E-skills UK is hosting a series of half-day consultation events throughout the UK, starting this month to help shape the national frameworks for the IT profession and for IT user skills in all sectors of industry. The Sector Skills Council for IT and Telecoms aims to put together a set of National Occupational Standards (NOS) […]
Cities Hit by Brain Drain
Major UK cities are likely to be affected by a ‘brain drain’ as over half a million graduates flock to London, Jobsite has warned.The approaching exodus of qualified individuals to the capital was revealed in a survey that showed one in three current students was planning a move to London in search of employment.Worst hit […]
There’s a Write Way
From the confused email that leaves its recipient scratching their head to the over-long document that has the reader heading for the coffee pot, writing business documents can be a minefield. In this article Janet Basdell, who has designed her own system for business writing, passes on some essential tips to consider before you hit […]
£5m Olympic Boost for London Skills
An additional £5m is beng invested in training opportunities for Londoners ahead of the 2012 Olympics.The government funding will be targeted on training sports coaches, construction workers and 200 extra apprenticeships in customer services and hospitality ahead.Skills minister David Lammy said: “We must get more people into skilled jobs in construction, customer services and hospitality, […]
Interview Skills Letting Companies Down
Job seekers are turning down offers from UK companies because of the poor standards of many interviewers.A survey released by T-Mobile found that 56% of people who had suffered a bad interview laid the blame on the interviewer, accusing some of lateness, rudeness, sexism and even drunkenness.Around 40% of interviewees said they were asked questions […]
The Write Stuff
Business’ reliance on written communication is greater than ever with the advent of email, but at the same time more organisations seem to feel that their staff don’t make the grade when it comes to writing clearly and accurately. This case study looks at how the Foreign and Commonwealth Office used training to boost staff […]
HR ‘Lacks Strategic Skills’
The biggest challenge that HR departments face in their bid to become more strategic is a lack of skills, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and Institute of Employment Studies.In a poll the CIPD found that 53% of organisations had restructured their HR function in the last year and […]
The Harrogate Pilgrimage: A Journey Worth Making? By Annie Hayes
The all together more palatable September, term-time slot is one reason why many are attending this year’s Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) annual conference. Annie Hayes finds out who is going and why. Practitioner keynotes and inspirational speakersThere’s no doubt that the glitz, glamour and fame that speakers in past conferences brought has […]
Podcasts Focus on Training Trends and Best Practice
E-learning specialist Learn.com has launched a new Podcast series for HR and training executives. Hosted by Don Cook, senior vice President of Marketing and Michael Sabbag, director of Talent Management Services at Learn.com, the series will focus on industry trends, successful strategies, best practices, new and innovative technologies. “You will leave each Podcast with fresh […]
Half of Adults Recognise Value of Training
Over half (57%) of adults consider training a worthwhile investment of time and money, while a quarter are currently involved in training, a government survey shows.There are significant regional variations across England in perceptions of the value of training, with those in the West Midlands most in favour, at 65%, compared to 50% of those […]
Managers Stress Importance of Political Skills
Political skills are increasingly being seen as vital to career success, but many managers admit they have room for improvement when it comes to influencing others. A study by the Chartered Management Institute and Warwick Business School found that most individuals believe the political skills that build alliances will grow in importance in the next […]
How to: Avoid presentation and training disasters when using technology
Murphys Laws of media If anything can go wrong it will Equipment knows when you are nervous No two plugs are compatible Slides are always upside down Computer files are always incompatible If it worked yesterday, it will not work today Ian Hart, University of Hong KongIt has happened to the best of trainers: you […]
How to: Set a fee for your services
This Expert Guide has been written for freelancers and small companies delivering consultancy and training services to clients and who want to review the process by which they charge for their work. These notes will be helpful to people who are new to the business or who wish to re-examine their present fee-charging arrangements. The […]
Training and Development Top Priority for Graduates
Graduates rank training and development over salary when selecting their first employer, a new survey claims.The online poll for Ernst & Young, which registered over 1000 votes, found that that nearly half (44%) of graduates view a company’s provision of training and development as the most important consideration when weighing up a potential employer.Other considerations […]
Can you Train for Honesty?
Few will have missed the media furore surrounding the BBC and the apparent breaches of trust that have occurred in the running of competitions. The BBC seems to be taking peremptory action by arranging training in editorial integrity for 16,000 employees. This may be a necessary reaction to a serious threat to the BBC’s perceived […]
How to Improve Your Communication Skills
Polls consistently show public speaking to be one of our biggest fears. Even training professionals well-versed in standing before delegates can face some butterflies before a big presentation. In this article, public speaking expert Vince Stevenson shares his advice on how to overcome any fears. In my 30 years in industry, the issue of communication […]
Computer Program That Looks After Your Back
A British software house has pioneered an interactive program that helps protect computer users from back-pain, repetitive stress injury (RSI) and other occupational hazards.PostureMinder is the brainchild of computer vision scientist Dr Philip Worthington, who realised the need from his own experience.“When I went to work for a new company, I had my display screen […]
Finding the Words
Reality TV shows like Dragons’ Den and The Apprentice are portrayed as showcasing business talent. But for Vince Stevenson it’s the way that these intelligent, high-flying contestants fall when faced with an audience that highlights a serious business issue. The business world is finally waking up to the fact that communication skills are at an […]
Multi-Million Grants to Build Construction Skills
The construction industry is set to receive a record figure of £140m in training grants this year.Available from 1st August 2007, CITB-ConstructionSkills Grants are available to support a wide variety of training within the industry, covering key initiatives such as qualifying existing workers, improving health and safety,and training new recruits. Frms can claim grants for […]
Multi-Million Boost to Health Service Training
The English health service is set to benefit from a further £100m annual investment in skills, thanks to a new three-year deal.Skills for Health – the sector skills council for the public, private and voluntary healthcare sectors – has signed a new multi-million pound Joint Investment Framework involving Strategic Health Authorities and the Learning and […]
