First Graduates for Vodaphone Marketing Course

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Vodaphone has set up an in-house certificate in direct marketing in a bid to build a greater focus on customer relations across the group.The Vodaphone Certificate in Direct Markting consists of five one-day modules, created and accredited by the Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM). The first 31 Vodaphone employees to take the certificate have now […]

Plenty of Jobs But Not Enough Skills, Says Manpower

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The UK skills shortage and low unemployment is making it hard for employers to take on staff, according to research by recruitment company Manpower.The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey found that UK job prospects were positive for the second part of the year, with 16% of employers looking to add to their payrolls.However, Hazel Detsiny, Director […]

Charity Sector Training “In Crisis”

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“There is a crisis in training in the voluntary and community sector,” a leading charity analyst is set to warn the sector.Professor Ian Bruce, head of the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at City University’s Cass Business School plans to make the statement in a lecture this evening (Wednesday 24 March) on “Charities: too Amateur or […]

Study Finds E-Learners ‘Get What They Need’

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Almost all IT e-learners in a new study said they got what they needed out of their course, regardless of whether they finished it.The survey, by e-learning provider SkillSoft showed that many wanting to update their IT skills tended to learn on-the-job and apply their new skills immediately, according to a new studyOnly 23% of […]

Co-ordinating E-Learning with IT Development

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Which comes first the training or the new IT system? Adval Creative Director Richard Bunning argues both. Here he demonstrates how to overcome the hurdles of developing a training package for a new IT system while that system is still in development. Companies planning to introduce or upgrade their IT systems face a challenge: how […]

From the Chalkboard to the Chatboard

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Jacqui Harper of Crystal Business Training charts the way training has moved on from the days when trainers talked and learners listened. There was a time when training was all chalk and talk. Thankfully the formal traditional ways are probably best for the classroom, where the techniques are right for developing the minds of young […]

Balanced Approach to Leadership

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Leadership consultant Simon Batty of Maple Associates explains how values, effectiveness and influence are the three dimensions of successful management. There are three dimensions to effective leadership – values, effectiveness and influence. Effective leadership is about developing ability in each of the three dimensions and then applying these skills and abilities in a balanced, three-dimensional […]

Learning Technologies: Trainers Must Talk “Human Capital”

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Training professionals must talk in terms of human capital not human resources Professor Andrew Mayo told delegates at the Learning Technologies Conference.Prof Mayo said: “HR departments use terms like human resources and headcount, it is up to us as professionals to fight this idea that people are costs walking around.”He said that terms such as […]

Management Training Must Think Global

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In a business environment that is increasingly global, David Head, Professor of International Business Communication at the University of Plymouth Business School, argues that management training in the UK must look beyond the shores of this small island. Just over a decade after completion of the European Single Market and with the business context firmly […]

Bitesize No. 2 – Putting a £ Value on Training

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It is amazing how much training takes place and how much money is spent without any effort being made to put a real value on what such training is worth. This is a pity because training can make a significant difference and generate very considerable pound signs. Also, if managers do not really consider the […]

Bitesize Business Partners: Introduction

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Business partners, with training expertise, are a new but rapidly growing breed of professional. They are in great demand and can command a premium when it comes to salary package because they can demonstrate the value they add. But what distinguishes a trainer working as a business partner from traditional trainers or management development specialists? […]

Managers Need to Understand Finance

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In the business world post Enron, finance trainer John Kind of John Kind Learning argues that managers need to get to grips with the accounting basics. Accounting and finance remain the ‘ugly ducklings’ of management subjects because they have a reputation for dullness and complexity, which many accountants fail to dispel in discussions and meetings […]

Leaders – Born or Bred?

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Terry Russell, partner of Intouch Management Consulting LLP argues that with enough will, training and practice anyone can become a leader. So much has been written about leadership in businesses. Some theories suggest that a leader stands alone like a superman or superwoman and creates their own heroic visions. Other theories believe in distributive leadership, […]

Staff resolve to change jobs

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Around 13% of workers are planning to change jobs in the New Year, citing the fact that they feel trapped in their current position.The People in Work Monitor survey by Pitman Training showed that nearly half of respondents – 47% – said they felt trapped in their current role. Pitman said this showed a need […]

Accelerated learning – the next big thing for 2004?

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Accelerated learning is not new, but Robert Chapman of The Training Camp argues that its time has come. Accelerated learning is anti-method, and anti-technique and therefore challenges the ‘one size fits all’ approach of conventional learning. The modern notion of accelerated learning has been formed by a number of 20th century influences, notably Bulgarian psychiatrist […]

Sporting heroes as business role models

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John Macarfrae, director of training provider Maverick, believes the team training methods that create heroes on the sportsfield can translate into the field of work. If you are involved in training and development you will be well versed in the concepts of team-working and the need for a balance of people with the need to […]

Feature: E-learning trends for 2004

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As part of our focus on training trends for 2004, Tony Probert of Dotworld Communications predicts the five key drivers for e-learning in the coming year. Feedback from the training industry indicates that business unit (BU)managers are increasingly not only the sponsors but the decision makers in today’s e-learning projects. E-learning must deliver measurable benefits […]

Organisations use training to stem staff turnover

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Training and development’s value in reducing staff turnover has been recognised in a study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. The survey of 577 organisations found that increasing training and development is the most common method used to lower staff turnover. And it seemed organisations were right to focus on training and development, […]

Training spend increase in US

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The United States has spent more on employee training and provided more hours of training than ever before.The results come from the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) 2003 State of the Industry Report. Over 270 organisations responded to the survey, the results showed: – Training expenditure as a percentage of pay roll increased […]

Giuliani tells Brits how to be a leader

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Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani has shared his leadership philosophy at a seminar for members of the Institute of Leadership and Management.Mr Giuliani, who came to personify the resilient character of New York after the attack on the World Trade Centre, appeared at the event via a satellite link up.Mr Giuliani told delegates that […]