A scheme encouraging business people to change career and go into teaching has received a positive reaction from HR professionals.
Many of the 101 HR practitioners surveyed by market research firm ICM said they could see the benefits of releasing staff to take up a job in schools.
The Training and Development Agency for Schools this week announced the first 48 organisations to back the Transition to Teaching scheme. These include technology giant IBM, BT, financial services company KPMG and the Ministry of Defence.
Transition to Teaching targets skilled people in both the public and private sector and urges them to consider a career teaching science, technology or maths.
Six in 10 HR professionals polled said the scheme would help tackle the UK’s skills crisis by inspiring people to join those industries in desperate need of new talent.
Five in 10 think the scheme could be a useful tool when dealing with staffing changes, while 50% believe the scheme could enhance their company’s reputation. A third of HR professionals said the scheme could attract potential employees, and 27% believe it could improve staff relations.
Jonathan Ferrar, HR director at IBM UK, said: “The research shows that about a third of HR directors are already involved in schemes that assist staff with long-term career plans. Transition to Teaching is a welcome development of this model for businesses that have staff with skills in science, technology, engineering and maths.
“By getting on board now, companies will not only build their reputation among staff, customers and suppliers, but can also safeguard the quality of recruits in the future.”
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