Employers running the risk of losing their future leaders by failing to provide adequate training

Employers running the risk of losing their future leaders by failing to provide adequate training according to The Chartered Management Institute in a "Press Release"

7th May 2009 Can you learn to lead?

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has issued a press release saying that organisations across the UK are in danger of becoming ‘rudderless’ and stale, according to figures released today. There are signs to suggest that business leaders know how to tackle the problem.

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) is warning they won’t succeed without Government help. warning they won’t succeed without Government help.

The data, which comes from a series of research projects undertaken over the past 9 months, has been issued in the run up to Learning at Work Day (14 May 2009) – a national campaign spearheaded by the Campaign for Learning.

According to the findings, employers run the risk of losing their future leaders because they are failing to provide adequate training (46 per cent) or career opportunities (also 46 per cent) as a result of the recession. With more senior function heads made redundant over the past year (2.3 per cent) than junior staff (1.3 per cent), many organisations are facing the prospect of a future without adequate leadership experience.

However, asked what can be done to rectify the situation, 82 per cent of respondents argued that their employer should focus on skills development as a route out of the recession. Asked why, one-third (34 per cent) suggested that poor management skills will have a negative impact on future performance and 52 per cent suggested that loss of skills will also threaten costs and revenues.

Worryingly, the figures show that over one-third (38 per cent) of managers believe that their organisations’ management development will decrease over the next six months. The proportion focusing on developing core staff has also dropped – from 44 per cent in September 2008 to 22 per cent at the end of March, 2009.

The findings make it clear that whilst employers realise that a skilled workforce is an integral part of the recovery process, they need Government support. Just 22 per cent say ‘Government can do little to affect the downturn’ and 85 per cent believe tax breaks for investment in the skills of their workforce should have featured in the Budget.

Petra Wilton, director of policy and research at the Chartered Management Institute says, “Where possible organisations should look at other areas of the business before cutting back on training as skills development is essential if they are to be well placed when the economy eventually picks up. However, we realise that many organisations have now exhausted all other alternatives and the onus is now on the Government to step up to the mark and deliver support.”

Tricia Hartley, chief executive at the Campaign for Learning says, “Learning at Work day aims to draw attention to the importance of workplace learning and skills. The troubled economic climate means that the focus on skills, especially those necessary for business success is higher than ever. During this unsettling time for workplaces, maintaining the ability and motivation to learn and adapt quickly to change is essential. We should be reflecting on our skills needs at an individual and business level and taking action where needed.”

Notes regarding this Press Release:

*Figures from Chartered Management Institute research projects: Economic Outlook (April 2009), A Decade of Living Dangerously (March 2009), National Management Salary Survey (March 2009) and However Do You Manage (September 2008). The data is based on the views of approximately 4,000 respondents

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The Chartered Management Institute is the pre-eminent professional body for management. As a chartered body with charitable status at their heart lies the mission to promote the art and science of management. By sharing the latest insights and setting standards in management development they help to shape and support the managers of tomorrow enabling them to deliver results in a dynamic world.

Established over 50 years ago they have over 70,000 individual members and 400 corporate members who benefit from their breadth and depth of knowledge and expertise.

The Chartered Management Institute is the only chartered professional body that is dedicated to management and leadership. They are committed to raising the performance of business by championing management. They do this through supporting and advising individuals and organisations, or through engaging policy makers and key influencers in Government and the management profession.

Source: Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

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