Leap Year offers extra day for training

While Leap Year is traditionally the day when women propose marriage, a new survey conducted on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) reveals that the UK's working population has something a little less romantic on its mind this year. The survey, which questioned over 1,000 employees across the country, shows that given the chance, almost a third of UK workers would like to train on their extra working day. Yet despite such enthusiasm, almost half admit that training is often overlooked at work and the results show a lack of communication between bosses and their workforce: while 42% think their employer is unlikely to give them training, over half the supervisors questioned said they would.

The LSC's Train to Gain survey also makes it clear why training is regularly overlooked at work, with 61% of respondents explaining that time is the biggest constraint and 49% saying they are put off by the expense of it.

Making Your Extra Day Pay

Yet training is a great way to boost productivity, innovation and competitive levels. Its not just the organisation as a whole that can gain, workers too can profit from training. An earlier survey by the LSC* shows that if you invest time and money in learning, employees of all levels can grow their salary from £2,000 to £3,000 every year.*

Train to Gain, Director, Glenn Robinson says:

'Given that it's a Leap Year, why don't you propose to your employer? Don't get left behind: this is the perfect opportunity to speak to your employer and ask for the training you need. Improving your skills will help you take control of your future and will have as much impact on your career as it will on your general well being.

'Feedback has shown that employees of all levels are keen to push their boundaries, and where better to start than by training? While time and money are traditionally the biggest barriers to training, thanks to Train to Gain, it has never been easier.'

Train to Gain is the Government's flagship service to support employers in England, of all sizes and in all sectors, to improve the skills of their employees, unlock talent and drive improved business performance. Managed by the LSC, Train to Gain helps employers access the high quality advice of a skills broker who will identify and then meet their skills needs through a tailored training plan.

Deputy Secretary General at the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Frances O'Grady, says:

"In today's fast paced world, the biggest barrier to training is time. The survey shows a welcome thirst for learning, but too many employers don't recognise the value of training and refuse to give time off to train. More employers should get involved in Train to Gain, which will benefit staff and raise skills at their organisation."

One business which has already reaped the benefits of training is Martins World Travel as Train to Gain helped boost their annual profits by 15%. Branch manger, Kevin Groom, says,

'Training sharpened the awareness of our customers' needs and we've converted sales that we wouldn't have had this time a year ago.'

One of their employees, Anna Cass, is also keen to stress the benefits of Train to Gain:

'I found the training both useful and relevant. Whilst I've been in the travel industry for 25 years, you can always benefit from quality advice and professional courses - it's important to have the knowledge and the skills to provide the best advice and service to our clients.'

Martins World Travel was so impressed with the impact of training that they are going to use Train to Gain to improve the skills of even more employees.

Members of the Work Place Learning Centre team are available to provide journalists and media organisations with expert comment on all aspects of learning at work.

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