Training 'treated as a sideshow'

BUSINESSES have been accused of 'astonishing' ignorance of the value of the vocational training they pay for, writes Barrie Clement. In a survey of nearly 1,000 managers it was found that many organisations treated training as a 'sideshow' and that companies may be wasting precious resources by ineffective investment in workers.

The latest training trends survey by the Industrial Society revealed that only a quarter of managers were satisfied with the way their organisation monitored the value of courses. More than half of the respondents could detect little link between training and business plans.

The survey showed that nearly pounds 500 a head was spent on the development of skills, with each employee spending a total of just over four days being trained a year.

Researchers, however, reported a surge in support for the Government's Investors in People kitemark scheme, which seeks to raise training standards.

'Training Trends' is published by the Industrial Society Sales Unit. Tel: 021-454 6769.