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FIRMS in Dorset were today urged to make 2008 the year for skills training The Learning & Skills Council (LSC) claims that 45 per cent of businesses asked in a survey failed to have a dedicated staff training scheme in place.

Now it wants them to sign up for its Train to Gain brokerage.

Chris Minett, Train to Gain skills development director, said: "Training is an investment, but it is also an integral part of the employment environment.

"Many employers express concern about investing in training because they fear employees will leave their organisation shortly afterwards.

"In today's competitive climate, however, businesses need to acknowledge that staff development and training is instrumental in maintaining staff morale and improving retention.

"Around half of all businesses have no training plans in place, and this sends out the wrong message to existing and prospective employees.

"Staff want to know that their careers are being managed and developed in the right way."

The LSC claims that nearly half of UK workers, 42 per cent, are intending to look for a new job.

The figures are based on a survey of 1,500 employees by Internet recruitment service Jobsite.

More than 52,000 employers and nearly a quarter of a million employees have signed up to the Train to Gain programme since it was introduced nationally in August 2006.

Mr Minett added: "Thousands of the businesses in the region have already signed up for the Train to Gain service, many of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that do not have the luxury of an HR or training resource.

"They have benefited by working with our team of skills brokers who offer free consultation and advice.

"Diagnosing a company's skills needs and providing expert advice on appropriate staff training programmes can really put a business on the path to greater commercial success.

"But while managers should be focused on developing the skills of their staff, they should also not overlook their own ambitions.

"Direction within a business is essential, and the demand from business owner-managers for leadership training has increased dramatically.

"As a direct result of this, Train to Gain will invest £90 million nationally in leadership and management training over the next three years which will support around 60,000 senior people in 42,000 SMEs throughout England.

"In Train to Gain, there are benefits for both employers and employees.

"For an employer, Train to Gain takes the hard work out of finding the best training provision available, ensuring training matches the needs of the business whilst identifying appropriate and potential financial support for employers.

"For employees, it is an opportunity to build their skill base, whether through improving literacy or numeracy skills or by taking a qualification appropriate to their experience and knowledge."

Call Train to Gain on 08456 047 047.

8:42am Wednesday 30th January 2008

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