News and Features

• Age discrimination course now available
• Sex harassment law strengthened
• Legal developments in 2004 and 2005
• The content crisis
• eLearning in the public interest?
• All aboard the e-Learning Rollercoaster!
• What killed NHSU?
• Moving towards fully integrated systems for the Learning Organisation
• All news articles...

Awareness and Attitudinal training is now vital

The traditional view is that we have a 'skills shortage' in British business. This is debatable; measurement metrics differ from country to country. Skills, or abilities, are only one component of success - individual attitudes are even more important; creativity, innovation, enterprise etc. What we do know is that the British economy is out-performing our European colleagues. In today's open labour market and with extensive skills training available, skills can either be bought in, or developed on the job.

The HR Survey, however, revealed some prevalent workplace shortfalls which give cause for concern, eg 'work ethos' 'can-do attitude' 'respect for workmates' 'desire to contribute' 'sense of personal responsibility'. These are not skills or knowledge related problems - they are attitudinal issues - and are usually not addressed by formal training.

Of course, managerial attitudes towards employees also need due focus. This could reduce the current 26% of new recruits who leave within 1 month, citing no feeling of belonging or inclusion, or no/poor training. (Report by Begbies Traynor)