Recession ‘has put focus on importance of training’

More employers now recognise the importance of training and development, following the impact of the recession, one sector commentator has claimed.

The National Training Awards 2010 will be launched this month, with an opportunity to celebrate excellence in training and learning for both employers and employees.

Run by UK Skills on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the competition has helped recognise outstanding business and personal success through investment in training for almost 25 years.

Simon Bartley, chief executive of UK Skills, said the recession has brought the importance of skills building to a wider audience.

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He added training was important to Britons who were interested in both their own personal development and using such skills to find a job.

“As a country, as employers and as individuals – development of skills is something that is core to their future,” Mr Bartley claimed.

The union Unite recently warned a skills shortage would have a negative impact on the engineering and construction sectors, urging the government to accelerate training schemes for young people.