Rise in number of businesses reducing training opportunities

09:44 16th April 2009

There has been a rise in the number of businesses cutting down on their training opportunities in recent months.

Whereas less than ten per cent of firms had cut down on training opportunities or cancelled them altogether in November last year, the Hay Group found that this figure has now risen to 25 per cent of the 2,000 businesses surveyed.

While fewer companies are offering computer training and additional skills development courses, pay rises are also set to be low this year, averaging at less than 1.5 per cent per person.

Colin Evans, UK head of reward services at the Hay Group, said: "The results reflect the tough economic climate for UK employers, as well as uncertainty over how long the recession will last and how severe it will prove."

The predicted pay rise for UK workers this year falls below the 3.8 per cent global average, although it is higher than the 1.2 per cent forecast for Slovakia, Hong Kong and Portugal.

The Chartered Management Institute recently advised that companies should continue to prioritise employee training throughout the recession.