Training Courses
December Training Spike
Rise In Training Take-Up In Spite Of Recession
Traditionally, the first two budget cuts that companies make when a recession begins to bite are in marketing and training.
So it’s something of a surprise to see a significant spike in the take-up of Mekon’s training courses in the run up to Christmas. While the end of year period usually sees a rise in companies sending staff on training courses, the jump in training provision this year has been greater than usual, and certainly significant in the context of the recession.
Mekon’s Operations Director, Ed Wills, said that while there is no definite explanation for the spike, it’s still possible to make some educated guesses about why companies are increasingly investing in training, in spite of the economic downturn.
“One reason could be the Government’s support for training under its Train to Gain programme, which has recently made £350m available for small companies to invest in staff skill development,” says Ed. “This welcome cash injection is an extremely strong incentive for businesses to send staff on training courses.”
Ed also pointed out that the rise could be down to the recession itself. “With many companies freezing recruitment, or even laying off workers, management will naturally want to get the best out of existing staff, especially if a downturn in business has left employees with extra capacity,” he says.
“Equipping your workforce with new skills makes them more productive and therefore more valuable to your organisation. It also incentivises staff to work hard and gives them a greater sense of job security and confidence in their employers.”
“It seems fair to conclude that businesses are increasingly recognising the value that training brings, and seeing it as an investment that will ultimately have a positive effect on their businesses’ bottom line,” says Ed.
Has your business ramped up its training budget in spite of – or because of – the recession? Do you think investing in training is the best way to beat the recession? And do you know why training courses peak during the festive period? Take our staff training survey here.
