Feature: Training – The Missing Element in Successful Mergers and Acquisitions?
By Jon Buttriss, Executive Director, Thomson NETgTough economic times over the past five years have seen an unprecedented number of companies going through the mergers and acquisitions process, however, according to Robert J. Thomas, 50-80% of companies that have merged fail to match their previous performance. In many cases, the failure is caused by a […]
Feature: Effective IT Training
Ayaz Rathore, Director of Communications at R-Com Consulting Limited looks at how IT training methods are changing and questions which is the most effective way to learn. In the past technical education has focused on one-size fits all. Major software companies have chosen to develop instructor-led courses in a single country that are then translated […]
Police Prove Leadership Skills
Members of West Midlands Police have become the first in any UK force to achieve Chartered Manager status, in recognition of their management and leadership skills.Chief Superintendent Malcolm Coall, Chief Inspector Mick Gillick, Inspector Scott McKenna, and fingerprint enhancement unit manager Sarah Merrick achieved the award from the Chartered Management Institute for success in delivering […]
Staff Would Swap Jobs to Secure Training
Three-quarters of employees say they would consider moving jobs if they did not feel they were receiving the right development opportunities, according to a new poll.A survey by Media Logic found that despite the fact the majority of employees have only undertaken one or two business courses a year, 50% of staff still perceive training […]
Retailers Shirk Training Seasonal Staff
Retailers fear that customer service levels and the ability to restock shelves quickly will suffer this Christmas as a direct result of staff shortages but despite the findings only a fifth will consider training as an option for improving things.Deloitte’s Christmas retail survey shows that one in five retailers is concerned that they will be […]
Creative Industries Must Up-Skill to Meet Global Challenge
The UK’s creative and cultural industries face a looming global challenge that could threaten their future, according to a new report by Charles Leadbeater, an adviser on the government’s strategy on creative industries. In the report, ‘Britain’s Creativity Challenge’, Mr Leadbeater warns that complacency about the UK’s strengths could lead to under-investment as a time […]
More Employers Must Train Warns TUC
The TUC is calling on government to target the 40% of employers who do not offer training to their staff. The Paid Time off to Learn report highlights the crucial role a new national training programme will play in encouraging employers to offer training to their employees. However, it warns that the 40% of employers […]
Training to Meet FSA Guidelines in the Insurance Sector
New regulations coming into force next month for the insurance sector from the FSA include guidelines on employee training and competence. Jane Owen from Skillsarena explains how companies are affected and how they can ensure compliance. For anyone involved in general insurance 14 January 2005 is a significant date in the diary. This is the […]
Workplace Learning Boosting Union Membership
Trade union membership is rising in workplaces where unions are promoting learning and training at work, according to a report by the TUC. The report ‘Union strength through the learning agenda’ suggests that unions enjoy a stronger standing in the workplace where they have reacted to the learning needs of the workforce. The perception of […]
CIPD Call to Make E-Learning Accessible to All
Training professionals must ensure that e-learning is accessible to people with disabilities, for the sake of their business, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has warned.In a new report Why Accessible e-Learning Makes Business Sense the CIPD says that unless employers ensure e-learning can be accessed by learners with disabilities, they could waste a […]
Merger Ahead for NHSU
Just 12 months after it was set up, the NHS university – NHSU – is set to disappear.NHSU will merge with NHS Modernisation Agency, the NHS Leadership Centre and the proposed new National Innovation Centre into a single NHS Institute for Learning, Skills and Innovation.The move is part of a government commitment to reduce the […]
Case Study: Sales Training at Remploy
Remploy finds work placements and jobs for more than 12,000 people with physical and mental disabilities each year. As well as providing thousands of jobs at its 80 factories in the UK, it also finds employers for its clients in over 2,500 public and private sector organisations across the UK. Employer clients include Tesco, Land […]
Diary of an HR Manager
Day 1It was a long very intensive meeting of like minded wealthy (at 700-2k a ticket) individuals doing lots of role plays. A manic depressive was exposed as the selfish individual she really was as her father sat next to her listening to her consider suicide. Robbins did not schedule any breaks in the grueling […]
Diary of a Sales Manager
Day 1 Rather sceptical to say the least…..or am I just scared? What does he know about my problems, a yank? Why am I here anyway? Is this going to be some voodoo/occult weekend? A night out with my mates and a bottle of vodka is what I normally use as release….go on try something […]
Feature: IT Training v Time – Getting the Balance Right
In the wake of warnings about a looming IT skills crisis, Jon Buttriss, executive director of Thomson NETg looks at how to make sure IT staff get the training they need, without costing them hours away from work. IT skills are once again in big demand. According to a November 2004 survey from Gartner and […]
NHS Graduates Face Online Tests
NHS hopefuls will be required to undertake a new online numerical reasoning test as part of its graduate assessments.With 1.3 million employees, the NHS is the third largest organisation in the world and by 2005 it hopes to offer 90 places for the two-year General Management Scheme; 65 places for the three-year Financial Management Scheme […]
Brain Food on Offer at Heinz Learning Academy
Food company Heinz has proved its dedication to staff training by opening a learning centre at its Luton factory.The Heinz Learning Academy, which features purpose-built training rooms with a fully-equipped IT suite, is the result of a £50,000 joint investment by Heinz, the Learning and Skills Council Bedfordshire and Luton and the GMB Union.The facility, […]
LSC Launches Employers Guide to Training
Despite employers spending some £4.5bn on training, only half of employees are benefiting, according to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).The claim comes as the LSC launches a new guide to training and development that aims to help employers invest wisely in the skills they need for their business.Commissioned by the LSC and Institute of […]
British Gas Business Case for Apprenticeships
British Gas provides gas servicing and installation products to 3.3 million customers every year. In order to meet growing customer demand the British Gas Engineering Academy recruits circa 450 apprentices per year.British Gas calculated the business benefits of apprenticeships as: Increased competitiveness Without new recruits and their ideas the business would be too inward looking […]
BT Business Case for Apprenticeships
BT is a UK wide communications solutions provider with 20 million customers. The company trains around 600 apprentices every year in telecommunications engineering, motor vehicle maintenance, customer contact centres, information technology and business administration. BT's business benefits of apprenticeships include: ROIBT have calculated a net financial benefit when taking into account the total labour cost […]
