In Right to Request Training is put on hold for SMEs we looked at why the right has been put on hold for small businesses. Let’s discuss how you can request time to train.
 
The Right to Request Time to Train allows eligible employees in businesses with 250 or more staff to ask for time off from work for accredited and unaccredited training to help them develop skills relevant to their job, workplace or business.
 

There is no limit to the amount of time or training that an employee can request. Employees can ask to undertake more than one piece of training in a single request.
 

To be eligible to request time to train a person must:

 
• Work for an employer with 250 employees or more
• Be an employee
• Have worked for the company for a minimum of 26 weeks
• Have not made a previous request in the last 12 months

This right however does not cover:

 
• Agency Workers
• A member of the armed forces
• A person of compulsory school age
• 16-18 year olds and already expected to take part in education or training



Types of Training

The right to request time to train gives members of staff the right to apply for time off to pursue training which will help them in their chosen employment. However employees can only request time off for certain types of training. This includes:

 
• Training that will help them improve their performance in their workplace
• Training that will lead to a personal qualification.

The most important requirement is that the training you want will help improve business performance and your effectiveness in your employer’s business. The training could be:

 
• In an area directly related to the type of work you are currently doing
• Something that will help you progress within the business
• Something that will help you progress in a different area

Employees can request training and choose a delivery method that they feel is most appropriate for them. For example, training which is:

 
• Undertaken on your employer’s premises or elsewhere, including at your home
• Delivered whilst you are working or separately, for example on-the-job training
• Provided or supervised by your employer or by someone else, for example a course run by a college or other training provider
• With or without someone supervising you
• Within or outside the UK

We are going to write more on how you can request the right to train, so keep reading this blog.

You may recall our article in March: Statutory Right to Training to remain illusive for Small & Medium Businesses where we talked about employees working in large businesses now having the right to request time to train, and that it was expected to cover employees of small and medium size businesses from April 2011. However the Government has now ruled out the right to request training in SMEs until at least April 2015.
 
Employees working in businesses with 250 employees or more are entitled to have the time to train right. However the same right has been put on hold for employees in businesses of smaller size by the coalition Government. The right won’t be extended to them until the Government examines the potential impact of the regulation on smaller firms.
 
The provisions will be kept under review and a formal evaluation of the right to request time to train will be undertaken. This will allow the Government’s policy on this issue to be reviewed by April 2015. Once the Government reviews their findings they can make a decision on whether the right should then be extended to employees in small and medium organisations in April 2015.
 
This decision was made because of the consultation, which revealed a split decision among employers, professional bodies, trade unions and individuals over whether or not to extend the right.
 

Several respondents have commented that larger organisations have the dedicated resources available to deal with personnel and training. For smaller organisations the right could be a challenge as SMEs do not have dedicated HR functions.
 

Also, the additional cost for compliance would be difficult for a small business, which might cause employers to reconsider employing staff.
 

In response to the consultation, the Federation of Small Businesses said: “The Government should focus on promoting training rather than regulating on it. Businesses need to be socially aware of the benefits that training can bring to a business’ competitiveness.” 
 
The consultation postponed the proposal for the right to request training for SME only until economic conditions improve. However there is a strong movement among business groups to scrap the right to request time off for training completely.
 

Out of all the respondents to the consultation only 36% were in favour of scrapping the decision to extend the right entirely. However this did rise to 49% among employers and 61% of small businesses.
 

We are going to write more on the eligibility for employers working in organisations with more than 250 employees, so keep reading this blog.

Online distance training has become very popular, as it provides learners with the ability to learn what they want and whenever they want. However, instructor led training has its own significant benefits and has stayed very popular even in this digital age. Let us look at 4 advantages of instructor led training.
 

Instructor-led training is a form of training which involves an instructor providing live training to an individual or to a group of students. It could be run in an office, classroom or conference room using lectures, presentations, demonstrations, interactive workshops, discussions and it could be run even virtually, utilising video-conferencing tools.
 
So what are the benefits?
 
The Instructor

The most important asset in an instructor-led program is the instructor himself. A well-educated and experienced professional can add a lot of value to a courseware, as they share their knowledge on the subject to enrich learning.
 
The instructor is not only fully qualified in the subjects they teach, but also in the general principles of training itself. For example, if you are having difficulty learning something, they can use a variety of techniques such as role-play, games or exercises to enhance your learning experience and help you get back on track.
 
Questions & Real-Time Feedback

Another advantage of instructor-led training is the opportunity to ask questions directly and get immediate feedback. This could be a challenge if you were on a distant learning program, as you might have to wait to get an answer and in some cases you don’t get a reply at all. Sometimes if your question is unclear and needs further clarification, it could be weeks before you get the correct answer. All of it negatively impacts your learning, as while you are waiting you are not able to progress with your study.
 
Learning from Peers

Instructor-led training generally takes place in a classroom, which gives the students the advantage of learning from their peers. Learning in a group is not only enjoyable, but it facilitates retention of learning, deeper understanding of new concepts, and increased informal learning. Sharing ideas, group discussions, and debating with peers can further develop knowledge, particularly in practical application of the subject. Furthermore, since some delegates on a course are advanced users the entire group benefits from their experience and knowledge.
 
Time of Learning

Learning in a classroom is quicker than online. This is because a course has been structured and planned out and takes into consideration years of experience of delivering the course to people with different styles of learning.
 
Likewise, training in a classroom will help you to concentrate, because you are away from potential distractions such as phone calls or television. Enabling you to concentrate more on study may help you to understand course material better and as a result get through it quicker.
 
Moreover, your class mates motivates you to continue your study. This is particular useful for someone who is likely to procrastinate or study at the last minute.
 
Despite being the most expensive form of training, Instructor Led Training, as demonstrated above, has its distinctive advantages. So make sure you are choosing the best training provider, to guarantee that you receive good value for money.

On 6 April 2010, the statutory right for employees in larger businesses with 250 or more employees to request time to take up relevant training came into effect and it was hoped that it would be extended to cover all employees, in small & medium size businesses from 6 April 2011. 

However, in August 2010, the Government announced that it was consulting on the future of the right and it has now decided that implementation of the extension will be delayed because further time is needed to examine the potential impact of the regulations on smaller businesses.

John Hayes, the Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning Minister commented:

“It is vital to the economy and individuals that everyone has access to the training they need. That is why we are investing in apprenticeships, protecting adult and community learning, and freeing colleges to respond to local needs.

But it is vital that the right balance is struck between support for training and the need to minimise the burden of regulation for smaller companies.

We have therefore decided to delay implementation to allow further, thorough discussion, scrutiny and evaluation.”

There is a simpler and more effective way to help you feel a million bucks: Look for a career in IT and look into the process of gaining Microsoft Certifications such as the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification.  According to Maggie Berry, Marketing Director of the website womenintechnology.co.uk, being in possession of IT Skills can make you alot more attractive to potential future employers.

“Students who decide to invest in developing their IT Skills are really going to stand out against the competition and have the best chance of launching a successful career in what is a rapidly growing and exciting industry.” She is quoted as saying.

She also believes that 2011 will play host to an increase in the amount of jobs available in the UK’s IT sector. She also sees the sector in its current state a male dominated sector due to the lack of females who have the skills required for the tasks at hand. With more women leaving the sector each year than those entering, there is an overall shortage of qualified and talent women within the IT sector.

Those women looking to enter the IT sector could use this fact to their advantage she believes, with many companies being keener to hire female talent in more technology roles, female applicants holding good IT experience and qualifications will have no problem securing interviews for their desired roles.

If you are looking for Technical Training Courses which can help you achieve that million dollar feeling without the need for a scalpel, then you should browse our Microsoft Windows Server Training Courses to help give you the push start to do something new and achieve the Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) certification in addition to the MCITP.

If you are interested in gaining the MCITP Certification, we currently have a bundle offer available to have you MCITP Ready in Just 15 Days!

Up-to-date IT and technical skills are an essential for every business. So it’s strange that in more challenging times, these skills are suddenly seen as an optional extra – rather than a must-have. What’s optional about having staff who know how to get the best out of their resources? And why is it suddenly less important now that your team has the skills to keep your business moving forwards?

The truth is that in tough times, well targeted, high quality training can keep a business one step ahead of the competition. Of course, there is the reality of limited budgets and overall resource planning to contend with. There’s no doubt that we all need to make careful choices right now. But this should be more about the quality of training, not writing IT and technical training off the list for the foreseeable future. So what is the best approach for keeping your team well skilled in challenging times? Here’s what you need to ask yourself:

What training should come top of your list?

What are your business priorities for the next month, six months, year? What skills are going to help push your people and your organisation forward? Prioritising will help you create the ideal training shopping list for your business. It’s time to go through your company’s training schedule and work out which courses are the most beneficial for now, and further down the line. Which courses are going to help upskill your staff? Which areas of the business could benefit from training on core skills like team building and time management? After all, both these skills help build a stronger, more efficient organisation. Think about what will keep your business competitive and prioritise your training plan around these areas.

Do you really know all your training options?

This could be the perfect opportunity to review and update the way you organise your training. Reassess your training options and you could uncover all kinds of interesting and more flexible opportunities. It’s always worth making a call and seeing what’s on offer. Ask your training provider about pricing options and discounts for group or advance bookings. You’ll probably be pleasantly surprised! It’s also worth chatting to your training provider about the full range of courses on offer.  Ok, you know they do Excel training, but are you aware of all the other technical and business training courses available? It pays to think flexibly.

Are you really thinking ahead?

Health Warning: significantly reducing your training spend could have serious implications for the long-term well being of your business. 

We all need to respond to economic changes in the short-term, but not to the long-term cost of our competitiveness. How will you progress when your team lacks up-to-date skills? How will your company cope with reduced productivity and decreased employee morale? Never stop planning for the long-term. Choose great quality training from the experts. After all, you are investing in the future of your business.

You can access flexible, budget-friendly IT and business training through Infero Training. We can also give you helpful, no-obligation advice on your training options and tell you how you can get a training grant of up to £1000! Contact us now.