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Adult learning in line for shake-upChanges in the organisation of workplace learning look certain after speeches by prime minister David Cameron, business minister Vince Cable and education minister John Hayes. In recent interviews Cameron warned of changes. He said "Over the past 13 years so many learning places have been lost because they haven't been deemed useful. And simply focusing on workplace training......often means funding something that employers would be willing to pay for anyway. The National Audit Office has said that Train to Gain represents poor value for money, so we will refocus it, committing an extra £100m to learning chosen by people themselves." In his first major speech as business secretary, Vince Cable also emphasised the value of education and learning. "Bringing higher education, skills and enterprise together under the one departmental roof is central to the 'BIS dividend'," he said "My priorities are an increased emphasis on lifelong learning, stripping out some of the bureaucracy around FE, and making sure that the outdated value distinction between blue collar apprenticeships and further education on one hand and university on the other is disposed of for good. And Hayes has said "Unless everyone - rich or poor, young or old - is offered the chance to learn and to carry on learning through their lives, then these ideals will not be realised. They are ideals that should be part and parcel of all education, all life experiences." So five tips for employers in 2011 include 'Time to Train'. The right to request time off work to undertake study or training, which currently applies to businesses with 250 or more employees, will be extended in April of this year to all employers. All employees with at least 26 weeks continuous service will have the right to make a request. They must explain in a written request how the training will improve their effectiveness and the performance of the business. The right is only to make a request. It is at the employer's discretion whether they allow the request. However there is a precise procedure which employers must be careful to follow to avoid potential claims. There is also no right for the employee to be paid for the time off.
Preparing for An UpturnAs businesses become more optimistic about the future, the opportunity to push ahead with a sales drive is bound to be tempting. However, after months of operating in survival mode doing so could be detrimental to a business, as Stuart Maddison of PriceWaterhouseCoopers Thames Valley practice explains. "Highlighted below are a couple of the key areas that companies should consider reviewing to ensure that the fundamentals are in place to take advantage of the upturn. Engage Your Employees - Ensuring that the workforce is of the right size, has appropriate skill levels, and is well motivated, is critical to help move the business forward. The Right Team For The Job? - Take stock of senior management and consider whether the right team and structure is in place to take the business forward." Call us today for information on learning resources covering any shortfall you may encounter.
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