Bosses Cite Importance of Stress Management
The skills to manage stress effectively are crucial for a successful business career, according to two-thirds of bosses questioned in a new survey.The study by communications consultancy the Aziz Corporation found that most managers (92%) felt that placing staff under a certain degree of pressure could have positive results, ensuring that targets and deadlines are […]
Feature: Feedback Culture – Avoiding the Blame Game
If you are training staff to give feedback but not how to receive it, you may be storing up more problems than you are solving, according to Clare Hollett, Managing Consultant at Blue Sky Consulting. Feedback culture are business buzz words at the moment. Everyone wants it, some even say they’ve got it, but in […]
Hilton University Proves its Worth
Hotel company Hilton International has found a significant link between employee development and reduced staff turnover. In a survey completed by 1,854 employees across all parts of Hilton International’s business worldwide, 37% felt that being offered development opportunities is the most important factor in them deciding to continue their career with Hilton. A further 50% […]
Tricks of the Trade: Speed Reading
In the third instalment of our Tricks of the Trade series, Clive Lewis, MD of Illumine, highlights why speed reading is so valuable in business. Click here to read part one: The Ultimate Aides Memoire and read part two: Mind Maps here. Why do we need to speed read? Aren’t we under enough pressure at […]
ALI Inspectors Report on Training Down Under
Inspectors from the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) believe that Britain has lessons to learn from vocational and educational training in Australia.ALI staff, together with colleagues from the Department for Education and Skills, the Learning and Skills Council, the Sector Skills Development Agency and Qualifications and Curriculums Authority, spent two weeks visiting training providers, colleges, federal […]
LSC Builds Links with Big Brother Winner
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is supporting Big Brother’s Craig Phillips in his new venture to help address Liverpool’s construction skills gap. More than 8,000 extra construction workers are needed in Liverpool to complete vital building work before 2008, when the city will host the European Capital of Culture, according to a report by […]
The Way I See It… Escape the Stress Trap
Coach Graham Alexander reveals the secrets to achieving a more palatable work/life balance highlighting two examples of senior executives who managed to escape the stress trap. There is no escaping stress in the workplace. In the UK, we are now working longer hours than ever before, juggling work commitments, families, friends and fitness – the […]
Skills Dominates Global Business Agenda
Attracting and retaining skilled staff ranks highest on executive agendas for 2005, according to a global study by Accenture.The study interviewed 425 senior executives at leading organisations in North America, Europe and Asia to identify and prioritise the issues of greatest concern to senior management.Workforce improvement issues dominated the top priorities, making up four of […]
Institue of Financial Services Moves to E-learning
The Institute of Financial Services (ifs) is set to offer mortgage advisers the chance to maintain competence online. In response to the Financial Services Authority’s expanding regulatory framework, the Institute is moving ongoing competency courseware to e-learning. The IFS says the move is to satisfy demand for a system that can be continually updated to […]
Case Study: Leadership at the Legal Services Commission
The Legal Services Commission has put leadership within its organisation firmly on the agenda, with a development programme designed for its top managers. Such has been the success that a similar scheme for middle managers considered as having high-potential. The Legal Services Commission, the public body which is responsible for legal aid, is running a […]
Finance Staff Say Training Would Improve Work Efficiency
Most financial staff believe that more frequent and relevant training would transform the way their department operates, a new study claims.The study, commissioned by secure payments provider Voca, found that 80% of financial staff believed that better training would benefit their work.There was also complaint about the overall lack of training offered by firms. Less […]
Training Group Gets Top Scores
A not-for profit Greater Manchester training group is unique in being awarded five top ratings by the Adult Learning Inspectorate.Employment and Regeneration Partnership (ERP), part of the Manchester Enterprises Group, helps some of the region’s most disadvantaged residents to get sustainable jobs.The inspectors were particularly impressed with ERP’s Foundation training programmes, designed to give unemployed […]
Creative Skills Council Launches
A new sector skills council for creative arts and skills such as advertising, craft, design, music, performing, literary and visual arts, has been launched.Creative and Cultural Skills, chaired by Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House with Tome Bewick as chief executive, represents a workforce of almost a million people. At the launch […]
NHS Invests in Low Skilled Workers
NHS staff with no professional qualifications will be given access to learning accounts Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced this week. Hewitt said there would be £60m funding to continue NHS learning accounts and NVQs.The NHS Learning Account (LA) scheme aims to help those staff who do not have a work related professional qualification develop their […]
Trainer’s Tip: How to Get Learners to Log in
This week’s tip comes from Carl Fitzsimons who explains some of the tricks he has used to boost the popularity of a staff learning intranet. One item you may wish to consider is come pre course downloads e.g. we use a learning contract for each event to capture pre and post course planning /evaluationI have […]
Trainer’s Diary: Silence is Golden
Sometimes trainers need to lead, and sometimes they need to step back, and let the learners get on with learning. Byron Kalies explores the value of knowing when to take a back seat. There’s a false perception non-trainers and new trainers have about being busy and being effective. They’re not the same. A lot of […]
More Workers Learning Through Unions
The number of people using their unions to access training at work has risen by 9% in the last 12 months to 67,000. Meanwhile, union learning representatives – union members tasked with helping their colleagues access training opportunities at work – have risen by 50% from 8,000 to almost 12,000. The figures, from the TUC, […]
Kelly Calls on Europe to Meet C21st Skills Challenge
Education and Skills Secretary Ruth Kelly is calling on EU education ministers to join her in the challenge to increase investment in skills for the 21st Century. Kelly told an informal meeting of education ministers in London yesterday that she believes education and skills will drive up economic performance and have a positive impact on […]
The Big Idea: Perception Mapping
In the third of six articles on innovation techniques, Brian Campbell explores how a perception map can give you a new perspective on problems and issues. This article is adapted from Darrell Mann’s Hands On Systematic Innovation for Business and Management* and describes a simple but very effective tool. Darrell has developed and refined the […]
BT and Accenture Sign £70m Outsourcing Deal
BT and Accenture have signed a five-year, £70 million business processing outsourcing contract for learning services. The services to be provided under the new contract include technical and safety training, and the design, development and delivery of sales force and management training. Commenting on the deal, Alex Wilson, BT Group human resources director said: “This […]
