Modern apprenticeships: Dream v reality?
Modern apprenticeships have doubled in the past decade, yet only one in 20 employers offer them. Skills gaps, educational shortcomings, excessive red tape, and cost barriers are hindering the government’s vision of making apprenticeships widely accessible to young people.
A week in training: Innovation, what innovation?
A CIPD study reveals that despite managers recognizing management innovation as critical for long-term success, less than 25% of organizations prioritize it compared to 65% focusing on product or service innovation. The research highlights that managers lack necessary tools, experience, and time to implement management innovation effectively.
A week in training: News round-up
This week’s training news covers learning retention barriers, management challenges in UK organizations, and industry initiatives. A survey reveals that lack of management buy-in and follow-up are key obstacles to learning success, while research shows bureaucratic and reactive leadership styles are hindering UK managers’ careers.
A week in training: News round-up
This week’s training news highlights three significant concerns: the Institute of IT Training launches a new trainer assessment programme, a Which? survey reveals that pharmacy staff inadequately trained are giving potentially dangerous advice, and a global study shows seven in ten workers feel under-trained for their tasks.
In focus: Research, reports and publications
Dr Andrew Dean of the Marchmont Observatory provides a monthly summary of key research, reports and publications shaping the learning field. September’s round-up covers workplace skills dialogue, e-learning benefits, science education strategy, social media in education, and creative economy contributions from universities.
A week in training: L&D budget fears
Training professionals fear significant budget cuts amid economic downturn, with nearly half expecting reductions of 20% or more. However, experts warn that cutting training investments damages long-term organizational performance, staff morale, and employee retention during economic uncertainty.
Can we fix it?
The Constructionarium is an outdoor practical training facility helping address the UK construction industry’s skills shortage by combining hands-on experience with classroom learning. The initiative, backed by ConstructionSkills and Imperial College, allows students to gain real-world site experience alongside traditional university education.
A week in training: Apprenticeships, awards and the credit crunch
Apprentice minimum wages are rising by £15 to £95 next year, though employers warn this could trigger cutbacks. Meanwhile, broadcast sector training budgets dropped 13% as the credit crunch takes hold, raising concerns about industry standards.
Increasing employee engagement with their development
Help employees see the personal benefits of professional development to boost engagement. By highlighting how development improves job performance, builds recognition, and increases job satisfaction, you can overcome reluctance and build a stronger learning culture within your organization.
Competency frameworks: The bubonic plague of training?
Competency frameworks, once hailed as essential tools for employee development, may be outdated before they’re even completed. Garry Platt argues these one-size-fits-all models are HR white elephants that fail to keep pace with rapidly changing business environments, advocating for bespoke training approaches instead.
News round-up: A-levels, skills plan and birthday congratulations
Recent milestones for UK training institutions include The Training Foundation’s 10th anniversary and Ufi’s “good” Ofsted grade. Meanwhile, A-level pass rates continue rising, but the CBI warns industry needs more STEM-qualified graduates to meet skills gaps.
Flexible working or fast track to an early grave?
Flexible working’s dark side: while businesses embrace always-on connectivity to survive economic downturns, employees risk burnout as work intrudes on holidays and personal time, raising serious questions about work-life balance.
Online trading brings IT crowd out of basement
Online trading is transforming IT departments from isolated support functions into creative, business-aware teams integrated throughout organizations. Research across six industry sectors shows that e-commerce growth is creating new technology roles and requiring IT workers to develop broader business skills alongside technical expertise.
News round-up
This week’s news round-up covers major education and employment stories, including research into the gender skills gap, calls for an apprenticeships minister, and universities’ focus on employer collaboration. Key topics also include the rise of virtual learning and leadership skills development.
News commentary
This week’s news commentary explores key workplace trends including economic pressures on training budgets, the importance of coaching during downturns, and challenges in talent management and employee retention. Featured topics range from untapped organizational talent to the overlooked value of workplace learning and unconventional hiring factors.
News round-up
The UK leads Europe in training, with £300m pledged for skills targets, £680m secured for London employment initiatives, and new funding for adult literacy and engineering skills development. A report confirms employees need training to feel motivated.
News round-up
This news round-up covers major developments in UK training and education, including compulsory unemployment training, the acquisition of elearning company Epic, and a report on future learning technologies from Lord Robert Winston.
News round-up
Read our curated selection of recent news headlines covering training spend, skills development, and workplace learning initiatives across the UK. Browse stories on record training investments, new qualifications frameworks, and emerging training opportunities for managers and employees.
News round-up
A curated selection of the latest HR and training news stories, including coverage of workplace mental health, employee skills gaps, staff motivation, and corporate training developments from industry leaders and organizations.
A round-up of training news
This week’s training news roundup covers key industry developments, from employers extending diversity initiatives amid globalization to emerging concerns about elearning effectiveness and talent management challenges. Browse headline stories including updates on skilled migration, independent training providers, and new employer skills pledges.