EMPLOYEE TRAINING IN THE UK: STUDY SHOWS 1/3 OF RESPONDENTS HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY TRAINING IN 2011

A recent online survey in the UK concludes that 33% of the 344 individuals polled have not received any CPD (continuing professional development) training so far in 2011. Despite UK governmental authorities and academics claiming it is “fundamentally” important.  This same study conducted by Findcourses.co.uk ascertained that 62% of individuals have received 1-2 days of training while only 5% have received more than two CPD training days.

CPD is a vital resource in achieving strategic, company objectives; without which both employees and firms remain stagnant. “There is a fundamentally important, positive link between increased training and higher employee productivity levels,” a report by The Department of Education and Skills claims. Despite this knowledge, many organisations are cutting back investment in training due to economic strain or the like.

In an effort to understand current trends in the world of professional development, Findcourses.co.uk, the UK’s leading online search engine for Professional Development Training & Courses together with sister companies in the FindCourses Global Group, asked 1,018 users across the UK, Sweden, Germany, and Finland – ‘How many days of professional training have you had so far in 2011?’ In the UK, results show that only 5% of respondents have had more than two days of training so far in 2011, 62% of users have received 1-2 days of training and a third of those polled have yet to receive any training at all. 

Respondents from other polling countries showed similar trends of low employer-provided training. Finnish users had the highest training levels, with over 88% of respondents having received at least one day of training in 2011. Germans had the lowest amount of training days, with a total of 60% of users having not received any training thus far in 2011. Swedish users were divided equally with half of the respondents having received at least one day of training. Other categories of respondents, such as individuals specifically seeking MBA programmes, concluded that 80% of users have not received any training so far in 2011.

In a time of global economic uncertainty, experts believe this data has important HR and managerial implications. Employee turnover and recruitment processes are one of the largest and most costly business investments. In fact, according to a study by recruitment consultants Angela Mortimer, recruiting a new employee will cost a company around £5,000.

“Making small, continuous investments in CDP will allow your employees to grow on both a personal and professional level which is good for company morale and in turn, lowers costly turnover rates,” said Kate Butterworth, Site Manager at findcourses.co.uk.

16^th August, 2011
Press Release issued by:
Leah Schothorst, Communication Assistant
leah.schothorst@findcourses.co.uk
+44 (0)203 318 6283