25th March 2009

Companies and individuals need to invest in training and improving skills if they are to emerge from the recession in good shape.

That is according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), which revealed that training is beneficial, both during the economic downturn and once the outlook has improved.

Frances Wilson, HR advisor at the CIPD, said that she also believes the country needs to invest more in work-based training and apprenticeships.

Commenting on the issue, she said: "Countries that are going to come out of the recession well are those that have invested a lot in education and training and work-based training as well."

According to the Leitch review of skills, there is a direct link between "skills, productivity and employment".

The report stated that the UK will find it difficult to compete in the global economy unless it can make its skills base "one of its strengths".

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* The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the United Kingdom's leading professional body for those involved in the management and development. They have 130,000 individual members and their objectives are to lead in the development and promotion of good practice in the field of the management and development of people, for application both by professional members and by their organisational colleagues.

Source: CIPD

See also:

Ruling on the Default Retirement Age in the UK - jml Training Blog September 2009

Employers prioritise management and leadership training to survive recession - March 2009

CIPD Press releases - CIPD jobs market update - July 2008

CIPD guide helps HR navigate the coaching maze - November 08

Worrying surge in redundancy enquiries strenghtens case for interest rate cut - October 2008

Slump in productivity and rising unit wage costs spells bad news for jobs - October 2008

Flexible working - October 2008 Equality and Human Rights Commission and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Poorly Managed Conflict Is Crippling British Business - October 2008

Increasing your effectiveness at work by using your Emotional Intelligence - June 2008

UK jobs market being crunched 'woeful winter to follow awful autumn' - October 2008