Accelerated learning expert, The Training Camp, has launched a nationwide ëTime to Trainí campaign to reward those organisations that provide additional annual leave to be used specifically for training.
The campaign aims to lobby government for tax credits for companies giving their staff time off to train. Employees and employers can give their support by visiting: http://www.trainingisourfuture.com
In a recent survey conducted by The Training Camp, 67% of IT professionals said they would approve of their organisation offering extra leave which had to be used for training.
The 800 participants in the survey were given Germany as an example of a country with an established staff training entitlement. Citizens in the majority of Germanyís federal states are given an additional five days paid leave a year to participate in specific or general training. With no such entitlement in the UK, it is down to the discretion of the employer to allow extra paid annual leave.
Unfortunately, many employees are forced to take part in training either as part of their statutory leave or in the evening after work.
The Training Camp is urging other training providers to also add their voices to the campaign, to help strengthen the call for tax credits.
ìRecent debate has exposed the insufficient preparation further education provides for the workforce,î said Robert Chapman, CEO and co-founder of The Training Camp, ìIt is common that employers struggle to find well-rounded individuals for positions and there are often horror stories of graduates who cannot even create a pie-chart in excel. It is clear that the UK is in desperate need to dedicate extra time to training. Reducing employersí search for qualified staff on the continent as a result of a skills crisis in the UK, additional leave will give UK workers the opportunity to brush up and develop areas they did not have the chance or motivation to improve on whilst in full-time education.î
Chapman added: ìRewarding forward thinking organisations now would strengthen the UK economy as a whole. In recent years, UK businesses have been compromised due to skill shortages, particularly in IT, but the strain in terms of time and money required to get these employees up to speed just isnít financially viable for some. Itís time to change that attitude, or else face the threat of falling behind the rest of the global workforce in the future.î
Learning expert urges Government to credit companies championing employee development
The Training Camp launches petition for tax benefits for organisations providing time off for training
