Workers Favour Informal Learning Route
Informal learning is workers’ favourite method of gaining new skills, a NIACE survey has discovered.Overall, 82% of the 2,000 respondents found learning by doing the job quite or very helpful. This was followed by being shown how to do things by others (62%), and watching and listening to others (56%). Just over half – 54% […]
The Changing Face of Work Skills
The past 20 years has seen a fall in the number of jobs needing no qualifications for entry and a rise in those requiring computer skills.But according to research published by the Economic and Social Research Council on skills, knowledge and organisational performance, the pace of change has slowed during the past five years.The report, […]
Work-Based Accreditation: A Proposal With Teeth? By Annie Hayes
UK workers are being branded as the laggards of the EU skills pool, according to a leading business group, who suggest putting work-based training in prime position via a new accreditation system. Reactions have been frosty, Annie Hayes reports. Shaping up for the future: The business vision for education and skills the 49 page epic […]
Battle for Talent Heats Up
New economic research by executive recruitment company Archer Mathieson reveals that senior business professionals fear a challenging and competitive labour market may prevent them meeting their staff needs in the next 12 months. The survey of 200 finance, HR and IT professionals found that while employment figures currently stand at the highest level in history, […]
Businesses Unconvinced on Skills Pledge
Almost half of employers are unwilling to make a “skills pledge” to get their workforce up to a level 2 qualification, according to a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and KPMG survey.The latest CIPD/KPMG Labour Market Outlook survey found that two-thirds of UK employers agreed with prioritising basic skills training. While 54% were happy […]
Skills Envoy Warns UK Could be Eclipsed in a ‘Few Years’
Skills envoy Sir Digby Jones warned that the UK could loose out to emerging economies unless it adapts to the challenge of global competition and adopts smarter working practices.Speaking at the Work Wise UK Summit the former director-general of the CBI said: “Let’s be clear about this, the economies of countries such as China and […]
Government Aims to Give Prisoners Skills for Work
A personalised skills assessment is to be made available in prisons and in the community to identify offenders who will benefit from a programme of employment-focused learning and skills training to reduce re-offending. Under a new system – the ‘campus’ model – selected offenders will receive tailored information, advice and guidance and be offered a […]
E-Learning Has Vital Role in NHS Training
E-learning is playing an invaluable role in the NHS, but is not a stand-alone solution, the health service’s director of education, development and training, Dr Philip Candy, has said.Speaking at the Health e-Learning event earlier this month, Dr Candy said: “It’s a no-brainer that e-learning must be part of a blended training solution because there […]
What’s in it For Me? The British Institute of Learning and Development
In the fourth of our series on training membership bodies, Dawn Smith looks at the newly-named British Institute for Learning and Development – formerly the British Learning Association. How many members? Over 300 member organisations comprising over 600 individualsHow much does it cost? Individual membership costs £120 + VAT per annum, plus an initial joining […]
CBI Calls for Acreditation of Work-Based Training
British workers are wrongly branded as low-skilled because the national qualification system does not recognise the training schemes many undertake at work, the CBI has said.It is urging the government to reform the qualifications framework to ensure that the training given to staff is recognised.Allowing companies to award their own nationally recognised qualifications would be […]
Skills Council Drive to Boost Women in Work
Energy & Utility Skills is joining the drive to encourage women to consider careers in traditionally male dominated professions. The Sector Skills Council (SSC) said that women of all ages working in the energy and utilities sector will be able to benefit from a personal development programme designed to prepare them for career development within […]
Businesses Warned to Prepare for Skills Challenge
British businesses need to take a stand against the burgeoning skills shortages facing the UK employment market, “skills envoy” Sir Digby Jones has told business leaders. Speaking at the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) Annual Conference on Monday, the former CBI director-general called for businesses to work closely with their Sector Skills Councils to drive […]
Under Their Own Steam
Encouraging employees to take an active role in their own development is seen as a positive step forward, but do they always know best about what is most appropriate for their own training needs? Lucie Benson finds out. By their very nature, organisations provide a rich learning environment for employees. Much knowledge is learnt through […]
Skills Shortages Leave Employers Struggling to Recruit
Skills shortages mean that almost four in 10 (38%) employers are struggling to find workers, according to research by recruitment firm Manpower.The survey of more than 1,800 UK employers found that skilled manual workers, administrative assistants and PAs, engineers and sales representatives were the most difficult roles to fill.Management and executive roles were also reported […]
IT Skills – Experience Rated Over Qualifications
Many organisations see IT management experience as more important than qualifications, according to a new British Computer Society (BCS) survey.Almost 90% (88%) of organisations surveyed said that it was the experience of their IT managers that was important to them rather than their IT qualifications (41%).When recruiting IT managers, 69% of companies put a high […]
The Independent Route
Renee Mackay, CEO of Derigo Consulting, an Edinburgh-based management, training and HR consultancy, discusses whether the UK’s SME sector is losing its competitive edge due to a lack of integrated training. Hundreds of thousands of pounds are spent by employers each year on training courses, fuelled by a multi-billion pound industry that promotes all aspects […]
Employers Invest in Training as Skills Shortages Bite
Over half of employers say that it is more difficult to recruit skilled workers now compared to five years ago.A report by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) found that 55% of employers found it harder to recruit people with the skills they need today compared to 2002. However they were committed to ensuring their […]
Brown Invests in Apprenticeships
Chancellor Gordon Brown has announced more money for apprenticeships, training wages for teenagers and grants to help train staff in basic skills.In what is expected to be his last budget speech, the Chancellor said that some of the 5% increase in the education budget pledged for the next three years, would go into doubling the […]
Ten Ways to Boost Your Creativity
In need of a creative spark? Paul Sloane suggests some innovative ways to achieve a solution to those perplexing problems. Let’s say you are wrestling with a tough issue – maybe at work, at home, with your children or in your social life. You have been stuck for a while and you can’t seem to […]
Companies Focus on Customer Service Training
Customer service training looks set to be a big story for the coming year as more organisations look to gain a competitive edge.A study, by Investors in People, shows that improving customer service is a priority for employers of all types and sizes during 2007.Nearly six in ten organisations (59%) said they planned to invest […]
