New Online Directory of Occupational Standards
A new online directory aims to be a one-stop shop for trainers and employers looking up UK National Occupational Standards. The directory, from Skills for Business, contains information on occupational standards produced by the network of Sector Skills Councils and other standards setting bodies. Users can search the directory by keyword, by the SSC/standards setting […]
Award Recognnises Excellence in Adult Learning
The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) is looking for organisations that can demonstrate originality, creativity and excellence in encouraging adults to learn.The Opening Doors to Adult Learners Awards, which take place in May 2006, are open to organisations across the UK that provide clear routes of progression for, and have a positive impact […]
Case Study: Diversity Training at Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust
An equality and diversity staff development programme is helping one of the UK’s leading NHS Trusts to place increasing value on equality and inclusion, and to reap the rewards of a diverse workforce. Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust is a busy and successful two-star Trust, which serves a population of around 350,000 in the […]
Two-Thirds of Staff Offered no Training
Three-quarters of UK employees are not given opportunities to progress and 67% are not offered opportunities for training and development, a new survey suggests. Statistics in a YouGov poll, commissioned by Jack Morton Worldwide, suggest that a substantial part of the workforce could be unmotivated. While on average only 17% described themselves as unhappy at […]
Brokers Boost Learning Uptake
Learning brokers – who act as matchmakers between individuals and organisations providing education or training – play a vital role encouraging the ‘education-shy’ to get involved in learning, according to a report by the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA). Understanding learning brokerage states that learning brokers, such as union learning reps, personal advisers and […]
Training Spend Set to Rise
Not only do employers see training as priority, they’re putting their money where their mouth is with 80% of UK organisations planning to increase or maintain their training budgets in 2006. The finding comes from a survey undertaken by Capita Learning & Development during the recent Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Conference.“These findings […]
Training Key to Staff Retention
More than half of Europeans would quit their jobs over training and development, a new survey reveals.The poll of 600 employers and 8,500 employees from 10 European countries by consultancy Watson Wyatt, found that 52% of respondents would quit if they felt that they were not getting enough training and development.And it seems that staff […]
Chief Executive of Union Academy Named
The TUC’s union academy has taken another step forward with the appointment of its chief executive. Liz Smith.Smith, the TUC’s current head of learning services, has spent most of her professional life working in education and trade unions. In 1998 she co-ordinated the TUC task group that created union learning reps and a special government […]
Staff Most in Need Miss Out on Training
An urgent overhaul of training is needed to address the serious skills gaps crippling many parts of the economy, a TUC report warns. Training, who gets it?’ reveals that a third of businesses do not offer any training to their staff and almost two fifths (39%) of the workforce received no training last year. And […]
Ufi Doing a “Good Job” But Could Still do Better
Ufi has done a “good job” in establishing learndirect, but the organisation needs to streamline its administration and put more resources into services to learners, according to an audit report.Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office said: “learndirect is a major innovative feat that within a few short years has become the largest […]
Trainer’s Tip: Assertiveness Role Play
This week’s tip comes from Mike Kean, who shares his favourite assertiveness exercise. Invite each delegate to think of personal situation in which they need to be more assertive, then write the outcome they would love to have. Invite a partner to be the one you wish them to be assertive with and exchange the […]
LSDA Looks at Barriers to Learning
Employees with poor basic skills and few qualifications are the least likely to take part in learning activities at work, despite having the greatest need for education and training. The finding comes from a new report from the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA), which examines the obstacles to workplace learning and initiatives to break […]
USA Leads Way for Strategic Learning
The learning strategy of UK plcs lags behind their counterparts on the other side of the Atlantic according to latest research.In the UK only one of the top FTSE 100 companies employs a Chief Learning Officer (CLO) compared to around 50% of listed companies in the US. The research, conducted by learning solutions provider Thomson […]
Trainer’s Tip: The Induction ‘Funnel’
Rich Lucas passes on some tips about how to organise an induction programme. I use what I call a funnel effect, which lasts one week, but can be as long or short as you like. Day one is very general, company objectives, health and safety, all the hygiene factors etc. As the days progress, the […]
Green Light for First Skills Academies
Four UK industries – manufacturing, construction, food and drink, and financial services – have been given the go-ahead to set up the first National Skills Academies.It’s hoped that the academies will train tens of thousands people each year, helping to create jobs and tackle significant skills shortages in the four sectors.All four industries currently have […]
Feature: Language Skills – Ignore Them at Your Peril
The UK doesn’t have a tremendous reputation for linguists, but with the increasing pressures of globalisation, businesses need staff with foreign language skills more than ever. James Pitman, MD for Rosetta Stone UK looks at how e-learning can be a cost effective method of learning new language skills. One of the most prevalent issues facing […]
NHS Training Focus on Violence Against Staff
The NHS has launched a new training syllabus aimed at tackling violence against frontline staff in mental health and learning disability services.Promoting Safer and Therapeutic Services was developed by an NHS Security Management Service to provide training in recognising, de-escalating and managing potentially violent incidents, and aims to improve staff and service-user safety. From early […]
£3m Boost to Union Learning Fund
Around 70,000 more people are expected to benefit from training and development at work this year due to £3 million in new contracts recently awarded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), through the Union Learning Fund. A large proportion of the funding will go towards setting up and training a network of Union Learning […]
Training Gets Tills Ringing in Retail
Eighty-five per cent of shoppers would leave a store for another if sales staff do not fully understand the product they are selling. A telephone survey, commissioned by the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI), asked 1000 people about their expectations of retail staff and found that over two-thirds of those questioned (67%) said they had gone […]
Dramatic Take on Diversity Training at Co-op
The Co-operative Group is employing drama to promote the concept of respect at work and counteract issues of bullying and harassment.Using drama-based training workshops, the group has put 140 senior managers through the course, and will continue to train 65,000 of its employees using a specially commissioned training film.“Organisations cannot afford to ignore bullying and […]
