Now is the time to invest in skills

Want to fight back in the recession? Make sure you put skills at the top of your agenda.

There can be no doubt that the current economic climate is having a huge affect on many companies in our sector, both large and small. With huge pressures on finances it comes as no surprise that some may consider slashing training budgets.

However as markets shrink and competition becomes increasingly fierce, it is important to note that recent research (2007) shows that firms that do not train are 2.5 times more likely to fail than those who do. 

Having staff with the right skills can make a huge difference to your business. It helps improve customer satisfaction, build motivation, reduce costs and sharpen your business to give you the competitive edge. 

A well trained and skilled workforce can lead to higher productivity and higher profits.

• Training has shown to boost staff productivity by 4% per employee

• For every £1 invested in training the return can be between £3 and £6

So click on the links on the left to find what support is available to you now and what you can do to help you fight back in the recession.