News: Performance Management
Training 'even more important' during economic tough times
06 June 2008
The UK's retail sector can be strengthened if bosses invest more in skills improvement, it has been suggested.
Charlie Mayfield, a John Lewis Partnership chairman, accompanied skills minister David Lammy to a conference attended by top retailers this week, and underlined the significance of training and performance management.
"In tough times, staffing levels are often one of the first areas to be targeted to cut costs," he told TrainingZone.
"However, I believe that there should be an even sharper focus on enabling employees to fulfil their potential in an uncertain economic climate," Mr Mayfield added.
Visitors to the 'Retail: A skilled future' event were urged to continue investing in training during the credit crunch, with a view to maintaining long-term competitiveness.
Skills minister Mr Lammy further claimed that building the UK skills base is "essential" to enable companies to compete in the globalised economy.
"Businesses such as the John Lewis Partnership are recognising the importance of skills and are rising to the challenge," he concluded.
The minister's words echo those of Jo Causon, director of marketing and corporate affairs at the Chartered Management Institute, who suggested earlier this year that "continual investment" in training and development is imperative if firms wish to maintain success. 
