Skills training in the spotlight

Posted on 20 Nov 2009 by The Manufacturer

UK companies at the forefront of science and technology were given an insight into how investment in training can boost profits and help them to take on the world.

Delegates at the Annual Science and Innovation Conference, held at the QEII Conference Centre London on Thursday, had the opportunity to join a skills revolution with the help of the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing (the Skills Academy).

At the event organised by Govnet — the principal UK organiser of public sector conferences and events — the Skills Academy held an interactive discussion seminar entitled ‘Fostering a Skills Revolution’, where delegates learnt how to maximise their return on investment i training. Members of the Skills Academy team were also on hand at their exhibition stand to offer further advice.

The conference featured a number of key speakers, including Emma Mulligan, senior adviser at the Skills Academy. Mulligan was joined by Clive Reynolds from the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), who jointly demonstrated how their Learning Engine ensures training meets business needs.

Explained Mulligan: “We were really pleased to be involved in the event, and it gave the Skills Academy the opportunity to talk to leading innovators about the Learning Engine — developed in partnership with WMG. The Learning Engine ensures that businesses receive maximum return on their investment in training by integrating the five critical phases of the learning cycle: analysis, preparation, delivery, follow-through and evaluation.”

“Manufacturing companies need to see training as an investment and not as a cost in order to successfully implement strategic plans in the new market conditions. By investing in training, companies are going to be even more competitive coming out of the recession,” she added.