Work & Money 

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Training on the job

It’s all about skills these days. But are employees getting the opportunity to update theirs, while they work? How can you improve your chances of skilling up?

When did you last take the time to learn something new? People who participate in learning at work have higher levels of pay, self-esteem and job satisfaction. Studies show that training can lead to between five and fifteen per cent higher pay. It's something that makes you feel positive about yourself and your employer. So what can you do to ensure you get enough to develop your potential at work?

The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) suggests that, 90% of adults believe learning is important, and two-thirds would like to take some up. But there’s a shortfall – the Labour Force Survey states that, at any one time, only one in seven working adults are involved in formal learning. The barrier is usually a combination of time restrictions and cost. Employers who provide help with either of these stumbling blocks are much prized – many job seekers rate good training provision to be as important as salary, when choosing whom to work for.

Front runners
Companies like Unipart are a shining example of what can be done to encourage learning that benefits both the company and employees. They established the first corporate university in the UK ten years ago. As well as offering courses directly related to their many areas of work, they also give employees the chance to learn a new language and gain a range of IT skills. And the result? High morale, low staff turnover, increased productivity, and a workforce with high levels of computer literacy.

Nokia employees inhabit a fast-changing world, and the company recognises how vital training is. One of the four core values of the company is continuous learning. Through six monthly reviews, staff identify training needs, that are then catered for through a mixture of on-the-job training, external courses and e-learning. All of which is done in work's time, rather than spilling over into free time. They also have an innovative scheme of giving small grants of £150 to employees who want to learn something new for themselves, with no requirement for it to be work related.

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