Training groups target profit link

Manchester, UK - The National Skills Academy Process Industries is working to develop new metrics that will show the links between training and profitability, according to Joanna Woolf, CEO of Cogent Sector Skills Council. The plan, she said, is part of a strategy to establish a new, more positive culture around training in the process industries

In the past, companies' assessments of the worth of training was strongly guided by a levy system, in which they were charged a set training fee by a national training board.

But, said Woolf: "I don't believe that companies are going to put their hands up and demand a return to the levy … In some respects this [a levy] makes it easier, but in other respects it doesn't embed the culture where companies actually believe in investing in skills and education because it is the right thing to do for their businesses."

With its plans for companies to achieve world class status through initiatives such as the Gold Standard qualifications, Woolf said: "I think we will stimulate that sort of thinking among employers."

Cogent and NSAPI aim to establish and highlight the correlations between training and improved business performance. "We would like to do a bit more in terms of meaningfully connecting investment in training to the bottom line," said Woolf.

The training bodies are also keen to publicise more cases studies to show how they are helping companies identify skills gaps in their organisations and are training people in areas such as lean manufacturing and business improvement.

"We have got to do more to communicate those success stories just to get that culture going," said the Cogent leader.