On Learning at Work Day, employers are being urged to help employees harness day to day learning opportunities

On ‘Learning at Work Day’, Investors in People is calling on employers to do more to unlock day-to-day development opportunities, keeping employees motivated and the business on track.

Recent Investors in People research revealed that 60% of employees feel they need to leave their job in order to progress their careers, highlighting a major risk for employers across the UK. To stem the tide, the organisation is urging employers to ensure employees have clear development paths – challenging and motivating individuals to keep progressing whilst contributing to the company. Such paths encourage managers to see development as a day-to-day need, rather than a series of set-piece training events.

Simon Jones, Acting Chief Executive at Investors in People, the body which helps organisations get more from their people in line with business goals, said:

“A lack of development opportunities is often cited as one of the main reasons for employees leaving their jobs, so ensuring that employees feel challenged and motivated in their role is vital.

“All too often, employers confuse development with formal training and whilst this is clearly important, it can't be the only focus. On-the-job learning has an important part to play in employee development and employers should look to identify ways to help their staff maximise these opportunities, within the context of clear objectives and assessment processes. There are various options for achieving this – from mentoring systems to new responsibilities within a role – and employers should think about the avenues that would suit their business best."

An Investors in People spokesperson is available for further comment or broadcast opportunities. Contact the Investors in People press office on 020 7544 3118. 

ENDS

• The Campaign for Learning started organising LAW Day in 1999 as part of Adult Learners' Week to draw attention to the importance of workplace learning and skills. Each year, thousands of organisations take part in LAW Day and stage fun and business-related learning activities to help their staff learn new skills that they can put into action at work.
• This year, Investors in People is celebrating its 15th anniversary.
• The Investors in People Standard provides a framework for improving business performance and competitiveness through good practice in human resource development.
• An organisation that has achieved the Standard has been successful in adopting and maintaining its three fundamental principles: Plan - developing strategies to improve the performance of the organisation, from business goals to leadership strategies; Do - implementing those strategies, taking action to improve the performance of the organisation; Review - evaluating and adjusting those strategies, measuring their impact on the performance of the organisation.
• The Investors in People Standard and Profile are promoted and developed by Investors in People UK – an organisation whose main stakeholder is the Department for Education and Skills.

The Investors in People Standard is delivered by a partner network:

1. In England, the network of Investors in People Quality Centres.
2. In Scotland, Scottish Enterprise (SE) or Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
3. In Wales, the Business Skills Delivery Team at the Department for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Welsh Assembly Government.
4. In Northern Ireland, the Department for Employment of Learning.

For more information on Investors in People please visit www.investorsinpeople.co.uk