Evaluating on behalf of a public sector client the importance of staff training to employers within the context of an economic downturn.

Examples of our Work - Quantitative Research

Background

This research was conducted on behalf of a public sector client involved in the education and training of those aged 16 and above. Our client wanted to evaluate the importance of training from the employer’s perspective and to focus on the impact of training on staff productivity and company profitability, particularly in the context of an economic downturn.

Objectives

• To evaluate the importance of training from the employer’s perspective

• To assess the perceived impact of training on staff productivity and company profitability

• To examine the role of training during an economic downturn, especially in terms of safeguarding a business.

Methodology

A mixed online and telephone methodology was used to obtain responses from a sample of over 700 employers. The respondent was responsible for staff recruitment / training in a role at management level or above and in a business employing at least 20 members of staff. The majority of responses were obtained online, with the remainder targeted by telephone to ensure that exact quotas were met by business sector and region of England.

The sample structure allowed a comparison of the attitudes of managers and directors. The form of questions ensured that the importance of training was assessed in the context of increasing pressure on companies’ profitability.

Outcome

Findings from this research confirmed that employer’s perceived staff training as of fundamental importance and that it should not be ignored even, perhaps especially, in times of economic difficulties.

Results were assessed separately for different types of business, size of organisation, region and seniority of the respondent.