· 82% of workers believe training opportunities are key for career development
· 78% of workers say training is a benefit they would look for in a new job
· Employers say biggest benefits of training are enhancing employee skills (88%) and boosting morale and loyalty (63%)
· 61% of employers want to provide more training, but high costs, logistical issues and having staff out of the office are key barriers
New research released by Citrix GoToTraining reveals the importance that British workers are placing on training, with 82% believing training opportunities are vital for their career development and 78% saying it's a key benefit they would look for in a new job. Encouragingly, 88% of employers agree that training is important, but highlighted key issues that are hindering their ability to provide courses, including cost (56%); making the time to arrange the sessions (54%); and not wanting staff away from their desk or out of the office unnecessarily (30%).
The GoToTraining survey of 500 businesses and 1,300 working adults reveals that investment in employee development is at the top of the training agenda for most companies, with the biggest benefits perceived to be enhancing staff skills (88%) and boosting morale and loyalty (63%).
While almost two thirds (61%) of employers said they want to increase the amount of training they provide to staff, British workers were quick to voice frustrations over many aspects of the professional training they receive, in particular compulsory sessions with irrelevant content (52%), receiving out of date information (51%) and the poor quality of trainers (49%).
Unsurprisingly, the majority of training is conducted in person and on the job, although one in four businesses now offer online training to their employees. In fact, using technology to deliver training sessions was cited by 32% of businesses as a way of making them more effective, with 23% saying online courses would reduce costs.
The research forms part of a wider study carried out by Citrix GoToTraining in Europe, with over 1,100 businesses and 4,300 workers in total quizzed across Britain, France and Germany. The results were largely similar across all three countries, with 80% of German and 90% of French workers saying training opportunities are vital to their career development, and 70% of German and 80% of French businesses saying they regard training as important.
"The research reveals the importance of training to both businesses and workers across Europe, and highlights a number of issues that are affecting the quantity and quality provided. Businesses in France, Germany and Britain all recognise the benefits training can bring, such as a more skilled and loyal workforce, but expense, time, logistical and resourcing issues are proving to be barriers," said Andrew Millard, Director of eCommerce, EMEA for Citrix Online's GoToTraining.
"Web based online training offer an attractive solution as companies can quickly set up courses and cost-effectively deliver more training sessions to a greater number of people. By ensuring content is relevant, encouraging discussion and analysing feedback, companies across Europe can ensure they meet the demands of their employees."
Source: Citrix Online | 
