Local government is ideally positioned to exploit computer-based training, but is failing to take it forward, according to an e-learning expert.
Donald Clark, chief executive of on-line learning company Epic, whose clients include Direct Line and Vision Express, said local authorities could save millions by switching from classroom-based to computer-based learning.
Speaking at a local authority Improvement and Development Agency conference he said the Royal Bank of Scotland had cut its training spend from £15m to £1.7m – a saving of 700 per cent – after moving the bulk of its training on-line.
Local authorities are even better placed to save money than the private sector, he said. “Local government currently spends £800m on training. The savings are phenomenal.”
He added that because councils aren’t in competition with each other there is scope to share training material, making it even more cost-effective. “If councils work together, the return on the investment will be bigger and quicker than any of the private sector companies we deal with.”
But delegates at the conference said it would not be that simple. Many frontline staff, such as social workers and maintenance staff, do not have access to computers. Where councils do provide the same services they often have different methods and local needs.
Rosemary Goodwin, development and training consultant at Surrey County Council, said, “In a private sector company where everyone uses a PC and they are only selling one product, it might be straightforward, but we deal with lots of different professions doing different things.
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“There are things we would like to do but it will take time and a lot of consultation. It will not happen in one big sweep.”
The Improvement and Development Agency has commissioned Epic to do a feasibility study on a shared e-learning service for smaller authorities.
