Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Latest NewsLearning & development

Employers increase investment in training budgets

by Jo Faragher 25 Oct 2012
by Jo Faragher 25 Oct 2012

Today’s news that the UK economy has emerged from recession came alongside encouraging research highlighting employers’ investment in developing their staff.

A survey by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) found that 92% of employers expect to invest either the same, or more, time and money on improving staff qualifications and skills in 2013 as they did this year. However, in a bid to save on costs, almost half (44%) expect to use more in-house training in future, while close to one-third (31%) will make more use of remote learning resources.

Jane Scott Paul, chief executive of AAT, said: “A lot has been made recently of businesses taking fewer risks, sitting on capital and refusing to invest profits. But this research paints a very different picture. Employers are clearly committed to improving staff qualifications and skills, but they’re not just treading water – instead they are looking for new ways to provide staff training.

“The focus on in-house training and remote learning shows there’s a desire to make resources go further, along with concerns about staff spending too much time out of the office.”

Downloadable training resources such as podcasts and videocasts feature prominently in respondents’ training plans. Almost half (44%) of respondents said that they would like to see more downloadable learning resources, while almost as many (38%) are considering using live e-learning (for example, attending a seminar via a video link). Smaller employers still prefer personal interaction, however, with 38% saying that they prefer staff to be taught face to face, compared to one-tenth of larger employers.

The findings will be welcomed by employers after several reports suggested that training is still low on the boardroom agenda. A recent survey by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, for example, found that 83% of CEOs and CFOs advocated cutting investment in developing skills, training and qualifications over the next 18 months.

Driving the continued investment in training and qualifications is a desire to increase staff commitment and retention, adds the report. More than half of those surveyed saw this as a main benefit.

“Employers are not just looking at their bottom line when making decisions about staff training. Most recognise that improving staff skills is an important way to increase staff commitment to their organisation,” Scott Paul added.

“Businesses have been much maligned recently for a perceived lack of investment in their staff. But employers are showing far greater commitment than they’re given credit for. They now need to get the message out there that they are supporting their staff and are committed to improving their skills and qualifications.”

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

For more information on learning and training see our free Buyers’ Guide on the topic.

Personnel Today also has a wide range of training-related news and resources.

Jo Faragher

Jo Faragher has been an employment and business journalist for 20 years. She regularly contributes to Personnel Today and writes features for a number of national business and membership magazines. Jo is also the author of 'Good Work, Great Technology', published in 2022 by Clink Street Publishing, charting the relationship between effective workplace technology and productive and happy employees. She won the Willis Towers Watson HR journalist of the year award in 2015 and has been highly commended twice.

previous post
CIPD survey finds fallen absence rates and strong commitment to occupational health spend
next post
Upturn in graduate employment in 2011/12

You may also like

Company director wins £15k after being told to...

4 Jul 2025

Skills shortfall in construction threatens housing target

4 Jul 2025

MPs demand Home Office tightens visas to protect...

4 Jul 2025

It’s all about the Monet: how art transforms...

3 Jul 2025

Stop chasing quick fixes: return to the office...

3 Jul 2025

Asda hails major upgrade in employees’ benefits

3 Jul 2025

100% success for latest large-scale four-day week trial

3 Jul 2025

NHS 10-year Health Plan sets out vision for...

3 Jul 2025

Microsoft to cut 9,000 jobs globally as role...

3 Jul 2025

Decline in workplace deaths: falls from height remain...

3 Jul 2025

  • Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays SPONSORED | Businesses play a...Read more
  • AI is here. Your workforce should be ready. SPONSORED | From content creation...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+