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 […]
London Firms Offered Free Language Training
With London on track with its bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, the University of Luton, is offering businesses in the capital free language classes to help them cope with the influx of visitors from all over the world.The University of Luton has joined forces with Bexley Grammar School and four other specialist language schools, […]
Trainer’s Tip: Diversity Exercises
Eddie Newall offers some advice on how to get delegates thinking about diversity. There was an excellent thread on perceptions and prejudice exercises last year here. Other possibilities: A diversity ‘health check’ – give them a list of questions to establish their current knowledge in relation to the learning outcomes. For example: * Define culture, […]
Case Study: Careconnect Learning in the NHS
In May this year, hospital porter Andrew Davidson achieved the title “keenest learner” in the NIACE adult learner’s week awards. Having left school at 15, he is now on his 11th course through CareConnect Learning, which offers computer courses for staff in the health and social care sectors. Kathleen Miller, Andrew’s tutor, hopes that his […]
Feature: Staff Development in the Public Sector
In April and May this year online learning specialist SkillSoft commissioned research into the development opportunities available to public sector workers. It found a workforce with good access to training, but keen to learn more. Kay Baldwin-Evans, Head of Research at SkillSoft, outlines the findings. Development opportunitiesPublic sector workers have access to a wide range […]
Review: 40 Activities for Training in Self-Empowerment
Title: 40 Activities for Training in Self-Empowerment Author: Seifert, Lucy Publisher: Gower Publishing Limited ISBN: 0566076497 Price: £125.00Reviewer: Desiree Cox “The aim of this manual is to encourage participants to acknowledge and harness their inner power”. The activities that Lucy Seiffert has included are aimed at encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their lives by […]
New Training Opportunities for School Staff
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has announced new training and career development initiatives for school staff. These include a new Level 3 vocational qualifications for all school support staff, and a new collaborative four-partner Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE), dedicated to them.The Level 3 Vocational Qualification (VQ) pilot in Advanced Support Work inSchools, planned […]
