Employers Urged to Enter Apprenticeship Awards

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is urging employers to enter this year’s National Apprenticeship Awards. The awards are designed to recognise employers who are successfully using apprenticeships to improve business performance, and the hard work and commitment of young people currently on, or who have completed, an apprenticeship.Entries close on 10th March and four-time […]
The Way I See It… Internal Communications – Mind the Gap

The success of projects, of making people understand, learn and engage is dependent on communication. Alastair Barber, internal communications specialist with marketing consultancy Omobono looks at the issues. Sitting on a filthy floor in your best glad-rags clenched between the thighs of a drunken stranger: that’s an experience that The Gap Band brought to a […]
50% Rise in Employers Facing Skills Shortages

Figures released by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) show a 50% increase in the number of employers reporting difficulties recruiting staff with the right skills.A comparison of the BCC’s biggest economic survey between 1994 and 2004 has shown that while 29% of employers in 1994 complained of recruitment problems related to skills shortages, last […]
NIACE Highlights Learning Challenge of Ageing Population

A new policy discussion paper from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) argues that a fresh approach is needed from policy makers, educational providers and workplaces to cope with the implications of a rapidly ageing population.The paper, Demography and Older Learners, states that over the next decade there will only be enough young […]
Ramsey Under Pressure at HRD 2005

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey is set to offer his secrets on performing under pressure at this years Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) HRD 2005 Conference and Exhibition. The conference will have over 40 seminars linking case studies, interactive workshops, debates and speakers who include:* Kelly Holmes, double Olympic gold medallist on self-belief, tenacity […]
Part-Timers Excluded from Training

Part-time workers are 40% less likely to receive in-working training than their full-time counterparts.These are the findings from an Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) investigation: Part-time is no crime – so why the penalty?.According to the EOC more than half the UK’s part-time workers are in jobs that they feel fail to capitalise on their qualifications, […]
Managers face ‘knowledge gap’ on bullying

A UK-wide survey among managers has revealed that bullying is not seen as a key issue in today’s workplace – with only 17% of respondents claiming that it is a problem to be addressed.However, the research, by Leicester based PTP Training and Marketing Ltd, also highlighted a significant lack of knowledge among managers regarding company […]
Managers Face ‘Knowledge Gap’ on Bullying

A UK-wide survey among managers has revealed that bullying is not seen as a key issue in today’s workplace – with only 17% of respondents claiming that it is a problem to be addressed.However, the research, by Leicester based PTP Training and Marketing Ltd, also highlighted a significant lack of knowledge among managers regarding company […]
Training Awards Open for Entries

Businesses proud of their training and staff development programmes are being invited to enter the 2005 National Training Awards. The awards, now in their 18th year, recognise and reward achievement in training, learning and personal development. They are open to any size of organisation, there are three levels of award, starting with stages in Wales, […]
Tesco Wins First QCA Accredited Apprenticeship

Tesco is the first British retailer to have its in-house apprenticeship training scheme accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). The move means that the supermarket chain can now award NVQs to employees on its retail apprenticeship scheme.“We’re thrilled to be the first UK retailer to have our in-house training accredited in this way,” […]
Land Rover on Track with Apprenticeships

Land Rover is the latest company to receive a commitment certificate in recognition of the company’s commitment to skills development through apprenticeships.Together, Land Rover, Jaguar and Aston Martin form Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, which took direct control of the dealer technician apprenticeship programme six months ago. Since then, the group has significantly expanded the programme […]
Employers Delve Deep for Management Training

Companies are ploughing more money into leadership development, with people and performance management skills being key areas of investment.A study of 250 UK training buyers found that 42% reported an increase in their management training budget (up from 30% in 2003) with only 12% facing a reduction (22% the previous year). This was confirmed by […]
Managers Need Training in Business Benefits of Diversity

Line managers need training on the business benefits of diversity, according to a new report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). The report, Driving Diversity Progress, states that organisations who do not take diversity seriously could face difficulties attracting the best candidates to fill vacancies, and risk damaging efforts to achieve their […]
The Way I See It… Proving the More in More Out Principle

Michael Brown, Principal Consultant with John Matchett Limited, argues that a small increase in your training investment can generate measurably better business impact. Ask any training professional whether they think evaluating the business return from training is a good idea and I guarantee you they will say yes. Ask them how many of their programmes […]
Scots Workers ‘Highly Skilled’

Scotland has lower skills shortages than other parts of the UK, but there are signs that business is failing to capitalise on the knowledge economy, according to a new report.Economic think-tank Local Futures, found that skill levels in Scotland are higher than most other areas of the UK, and are similar to those of the […]
Politicians Warned ‘Immigration Plugs Skills Gap’

Current political debate about immigration needs to take into account recruitment difficulties and skills shortages faced by employers, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has warned.The CIPD said its research showed high levels of recruitment from abroad, with employers using migrant labour to cover shortages of professional skills as well as filling low […]
Education Policy ‘Failing to Address Skills Shortages’

Government policies on education and training are doing nothing to plug the UK’s productivity gap, according to the Institute of Directors (IoD).In a speech to the Institute of Economic Affairs in Central London, director general of the IoD Miles Templeman, said that 25,000 pupils leave school with no GCSEs, contributing to 4.5 million people who […]
Three Million Plug Into Home Computing Schemes

The Home Computing Initiative (HCI) Alliance says that HCI schemes have became the fastest-growing employee benefit in the UK. Enabled by the Government’s tax exemption on loaned computers, HCI schemes allow employers to loan computing equipment to their employees for personal use at home as a tax-free benefit. More than 380 companies, employing over 3.6 […]
Skills Shortages Predicted to Continue

Skills shortages look set to continue in 2005, with latest figures showing a record rate of employment.Office of National Statistics figures show that the number of people claiming jobless benefits fell to its lowest level since 1975 in the quarter to December, while the number of people in work hit a record 28 million people […]
Case Study: Ford Revs Up Staff Development with E-Learning

Ford Motor Company has rolled out an e-learning portfolio to its franchisees to help ensure consistency of training among a potential audience of 225,000 employees. BackgroundRecently celebrating its 100th anniversary, Ford Motor Company is one of the world’s leading consumer companies for automotive products and services. The company’s major brands include household names such as […]