The learning strategy of UK plcs lags behind their counterparts on the other side of the Atlantic according to latest research.

In the UK only one of the top FTSE 100 companies employs a Chief Learning Officer (CLO) compared to around 50% of listed companies in the US.

The research, conducted by learning solutions provider Thomson NETg, found that in the US, the CLO position has gained in popularity over the last five years.

One of a CLO’s key responsibilities is to link up staff development with business goals to ensure the workforce has the right skills to drive the company forward. For any business to survive and prosper, the strategic planning and implementation of coherent and comprehensive training is imperative.

“There is an empty chair at the boardroom table in nearly all UK listed companies,” said Mike Summers, director at Thomson NETg. “Our poll clearly highlights gaps in UK business strategies and that we’re far behind the US in viewing staff development as a strategic business factor. As organisations today face changes to their traditional business models in light of increased globalisation, regulation and cost pressures, they must up-skill staff to stay ahead of the competition and survive in the marketplace. During this time of flux, it’s more important then ever to harness the learning capabilities of staff and align them with business goals – something the UK must address.”

“CLOs are needed most at times of urgency and transformation than any other to support a business through change. This seems to have been recognised in the US but the message still isn’t filtering to the other side of the pond,” he concluded.