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 […]
LSC Funds Focus on Apprenticeship Completion Rates
The new plan for Apprenticeships in the coming year shows increased funding with greater emphasis on boosting course completion rates.Over 255,000 young people are now taking part in the schemes and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) plans to increase the budget by 6.6% from £1,037 million in 2004/05 to £1,105 million in 2005/06.Mark Haysom, […]
Trainer’s Tip: The Induction
This week Clive Boorman offers some advice on how to conduct a rolling induction. I have extensive experience of managing an accredited rolling induction process – here’s what we do. People will simply not retain volumes of information delivered in only one way. Whatever you do, you need to have different people involved in delivery, […]
Skills Shortages Increase Need for Training
Employers are recruiting less experienced staff and training on the job due to continuing skills shortages, according to a study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).The latest Annual Recruitment, Retention and Turnover Survey of 715 UK employers found that 85% had experienced recruitment difficulties in the last year. As a result of […]
BAE Named Apprenticeships Large Employer of the Year
Engineering company, BAE Systems, has been named Large Employer of the Year at the Learning and Skills Council’s 2005 Apprenticeship Awards. BAE Systems typically recruits around 280 apprentices a year to meet its commitment to customers and, on a larger scale, to help tackle the national shortage of qualified engineering staff.John Lee Male, Head of […]
The Way I See It… How to Choose a Training Provider
With an ever-increasing number of training providers offering a bewildering array of business related training courses, choosing the best supplier for your business can be a difficult task. Mike Gardner, Managing Director of WMG Associates, offers some advice. Cutting through the jargon and ensuring that the training you purchase meets the goals you want is […]
New Body to Boost Migrant Skills
A new partnership – Progress GB – to help employers overcome skill shortages and support refugees and migrants develop and adapt their skills for the UK labour market, will be launched today (16 June).The move follows research by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), which showed that while refugees and migrants have a […]
Apprenticeship Awards Finalists Announced
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has announced the finalists for this year’s national Apprenticeship Awards.Over 1,000 entries were received from employers and young people across seven different categories. Reflecting the range of organisations involved in the Aprrenticeships programme, this year’s finalists are engineering company, BAE Systems Plc, Somerset-based small business Upper Cut Hair Salons […]
Mastering the Art of Inspection
The Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) and the University of Warwick are offering the world’s first MA qualification in Inspection and Evaluation. For the first time, inspectors from all areas of work will be able to achieve a qualification in quality assessment and improvement.The first group of inspectors have now completed their induction and a second […]
