Making every £ count - Investors in People helps employers get the most from limited learning and development budgets

Over half (52%) of UK organisations have reduced their learning and development budgets according to a recent survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).  And with only one in 10 employers (11%) expecting training spend to increase in the year to come, the focus is on managing costs more efficiently. The main changes over the last year include a move to making sure training budgets are more business focused (38%) and a reduction in external suppliers and a move to in-house training (31%).

“It doesn’t matter whether you have a budget of hundreds or thousands of pounds – any business wants to make sure it is getting a return on its investment.  Businesses have become leaner and smarter during the recession looking for efficiency savings in all areas; learning and development is no different” says Vicki Johnson, Director at Investors in People South West, “Investors in People can help employers to get the most from their investment in learning and development.”
 
With the UK’s private sector now emerging from recession, the skills employers say they need to focus on in order to meet their business objectives in two years’ time are mainly leadership skills (65%), front line people management skills (55%) and business awareness (51%).  These are all key topics that Investors in People addresses by

• Identifying the leadership and management skills the business needs to deliver its objectives
• Helping managers to raise performance by recognising and valuing the contribution people make, managing poor performance and giving feedback
• Engaging people by involving them in the business, communicating business objectives and sharing knowledge across the business

All the evidence shows that a skilled and motivated workforce will be essential to ensure organisations are well placed to take advantage of the recovery when it comes.  Recent research has shown has shown the positive effects Investors in People has on organisations including better financial performance, a motivated and more flexible workforce and higher levels of innovation which can result in higher gross profits by potentially as much as £176 per employee.

South West manufacturing company Apperley Honing commented "Working on the Investors project made us take a long look at what we did well, and what we did not so well. It helped us focus resources and additional training where they were most needed. For example many staff previously had little responsibility away from their desk or machine, but now are happy to take on and accept ownership of much bigger projects, and this has improved moral, production and the whole working environment."

Vicki Johnson of Investors in People South West goes on to say, “We are helping organisations of all types and sizes across the South West to improve their businesses and 99% of our customers would recommend Investors in People to others.”

To arrange a briefing or more information, contact Jean Hawkins at Investors in People South West on 01452 420915 or email jean.hawkins@recognisingexcellence.co.uk

19th May 2010