Institute of Training and Occupational Learning – eight months on
By Jeffrey Brooks. Director.The launch of ITOL in February of this year represented an act of faith by a small group of trainers who had met informally over many years to aid our own development. We had become increasingly frustrated by what we saw as a lack of support and encouragement for the recognition and […]
Skills shortages still on the up, says Reed
Problems with skills shortages in the UK are at a record three-year high, according to recruitment company Reed.The eleventh Reed Skills Index surveyed 550 organisations to establish the need for staff with particular skills across a number of industry sectors. It found that 72% of those surveyed were having problems recruiting staff with suitable skills, […]
Action needed to improve equal opportunities in training
The Training Standards Council (TSC) says that not enough work is being done by training providers to make training schemes accessible to all.The TSC says that although care is taken to comply with statutory requirements regarding equal opportunities, opportunities for increasing inclusion in training and employment are being lost, because it’s not just a case […]
Modern Apprenticeships suffer because of TEC funding, says TSC
Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) have been thwarting the success of Modern Apprenticeships as a result of the funding methods they use, according to the Training Standards Council (TSC). According to TSC chief inspector David Sherlock, “weaknesses in funding mechanisms for modern apprenticeships are compromising achievement.” Sherlock sites the example of using the achievement of […]
Making sense of the f*** word!
Have you noticed that people are now using the F*** word more in public? I mean the word ‘feel’ rather than the other ‘f’ word! In the media particularly there is a resurgence of interest in people’s feelings. Questions are being asked of politicians and business people alike: “What do you feel about the plight […]
More money from DfEE for basic skills
Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett has announced that an extra £150m is to be ploughed into training for basic skills over the next three years.Spending on basic skills will increase from £241m in 2000-1 to £403m in 2003-4, with additional funding for basic skills being provided through basic employment training for unemployed people, education […]
Countdown to the Learning and Skills Council launch
With the passing of the Learning and Skills Council legislation in July, the way is now clear for the launch of the new Council from April 2001 and the replacement of the existing network of Training and Enterprise Councils throughout England and Wales.TrainingZONE will be bringing regular news updates on all the implementation stages. However, […]
Recruiter CityJobs offering free on-line IT Training
Recruitment Company CityJobs is providing free on-line training to all those people registered with them looking for new employment opportunities. Those registered are then given a learning account, e-mail, educational search facilities and internet access to over 380 courses.The training is being provided by a company called ilearn.To and is expected to strengthen CityJobs position […]
More news of LSC developments
Local LSC developmentWith all local chairs now in place, announcements are expected in early September of appointment to the 47 posts of local LSC Executive Directors.To work alongside the local Directors, regional implementation teams are being established in all Government Offices to ensure that “dual running” of TECs and local LSCs can start as early […]
Key skills proposals during LSC transition
The Government is planning a major reform of key skills delivery within Modern Apprenticeships and the DfEE/NTO National Council has issued clarification of the transition arrangements.The main reforms will take place from September 2001 and until then new entrants must, as a minimum, meet the existing requirements for achievements in Key Skills. These are to […]
News and help with e-learning
From this week’s “Dispatch” from Brandon Hall:Real-world best practice in e-learningDownload your complimentary executive summary of the research report "E-Learning Across the Enterprise: The Benchmarking Study of Best Practices." It spans 10 US and foreign companies with the most significant e-learning success stories, including: Air Canada, Cisco Systems, Dell, Ernst & Young, IBM, Rockwell Collins, […]
Career Management: The forgotten element of HR?
In the world of HR and Training, career management doesn’t always make it to the top of the priority list. After all, if an employee is already in work with your organisation, is the attitude toward their career development more often than not based on what he or she can do for your organisation rather […]
University project ‘can do’ accreditation for work-based learning
The University of Derby and five FE Colleges in the area have launched a project aimed at bringing technologies in training to 60 local small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).The ‘Can-Do’ Project will link up with the University for Industry to promote the availability of work-based learning in SMEs through information and communication technologies in […]
Writing learning aims and objectives
We came across this simple little online course on the click2learn.com website recently and thought other TrainingZONE members might be interested. Just $16 gives you access to the course for a year.More than most professions, teaching requires keen organizational ability. In fact, teachers must know the general direction of a course before it starts, and […]
Oh, the irony….. or despair?
Within the mass of pages on the development of the Learning & Skills Councils, there is a Q&A on Modern Apprenticeships.One of the Key Skills, of course, is communication. One of the answers includes this sentence: “The first year will offer a minimum of five testing opportunities and be more frequent thereafter.”Can any reader (preferably […]
College lecturers go for strike ballot signalling wider unrest
Lecturers at Sheffield College are due to go for a strike ballot next week over reduncies resulting from a report into the management and finances at the college.The college employs 1,241 staff to serve a student base of 32,000.The Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) called for the report last December after the college failed to […]
Freelancers and Sole Traders
TrainingZONE is planning to publish a special page devoted to the needs of freelance professionals and sole traders. From one page users will be able to find information and links to all the agencies and sources of help which will assist them in either going freelance or building a successful small business – including tax, […]
Higher profile for vocational training on European agenda
News from CEDEFOP – Mobility and lifelong learning will feature high on the European vocational training agenda for the next 6 months due to initiatives by the European Commission and the French presidency. From 1st July to 31st December 2000, France holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The French presidency has […]
First Chair appointed to Adult Learning Inspectorate
Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett has announced the appointment of Nick Reilly as Chair of the Adult Learning Inspectorate.A nationally respected business leader, Mr Reilly is Chairman and Managing Director of Vauxhall Motors and Vice President of the General Motors Corporation – the first Briton to be appointed a Vice President of General Motors.The […]
‘Yes, We Never Say No’ – quality service training on BBC Knowledge
Thu, 6 Jul, BBC2, 0600-0630Managers in an international hotel chain demonstrate how they get staff to commit their hearts and minds to providing a quality service* Alert! link: Business and Training Vocational and training related material. http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/lzone/newbusiness/ Thu, 6 Jul, BBC2, 0600-0630Managers in an international hotel chain demonstrate how they get staff to commit their […]
