Firms 'not assessing impact' of training

Many firms are failing to assess the impact that training is having on their employees and the organisation as a whole, it has been revealed.

A new report by Hays Senior Finance shows that, while multimillions of pounds are being spent on staff training across the UK, nearly one in seven organisations admit that they have no measurements in place to assess the impact of their programmes.

The survey also showed that coaching is often undertaken without evaluating the return on investment, while two-thirds of businesses fail to use coaching directly to address corporate objectives.

Chris McCarthy, director at Hays Senior Finance, said that in far too many cases companies are leaving it to individuals to set the framework for their own coaching or mentoring, with little or no reference to the business needs.

"They then fail to check the standards of their programmes and show little concern for the outcomes. Support can be extremely effective when a professional starts a new role, but it is essential it is carried out in the right manner," he noted.

Recently, a report issued by the Department for Work and Pensions showed that training is currently being most commonly received by younger people and women, particularly workers in large organisations and those with higher qualifications.

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Posted by John Oak

Filed: 01-09-2010