FSB: Government must do more to recognise on-the-job training

Small businesses are being short-changed by the government when it comes to recognising workplace training, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

John Denham, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills is calling for employees to be given the right to request time to train and has launched a consultation on the subject. The UK’s biggest business organisation welcomed the focus on improving skills, but said that it should be easier for micro business owners to get the work-based training they already offer to be formally recognised.

The FSB pointed out that, in a survey of just under 20,000 small businesses, nearly four out of five (76.4%) said they already offer formal training.

Colin Willman, FSB Education and Skills Chairman, said:

“We support the government’s efforts to get more people into training, but employers should have the final say based on the needs of the business.

“The government could certainly do a lot more to make it easier for small employers to get the on-the-job training they already offer accredited.

“At the moment the process is too expensive and too bureaucratic for many small businesses to cope with. The vast majority of businesses do not have an HR department to handle these issues.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. The Federation of Small Businesses’ Barriers to Growth survey found that 76.4% of small businesses offer training to their employees. More information is available here: http://www.fsb.org.uk/documentstore/filedetails.asp?id=331.

2. The FSB is Britain’s biggest business organisation with over 215,000 members. It exists to protect and promote the interests of the self-employed, and all those who run their own business. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk.

Contacts:

Stephen Alambritis: 020 7592 8112 / 07788 422155
Simon Briault: 020 7592 8128 / 07917 628998