News: Performance Management
Training 'must not be a downturn victim'
18 December 2008
One of the areas where cost-cutting must be avoided during the credit crunch is training, an expert claims.
Alan Warner, Hertfordshire county council's director of people and property, identifies this as one of the processes which can often grind to a halt when budgets need to be examined.
Talking to the HR and Training Journal, he argues against reducing spend on these areas due to the effective "skills drought" they can cause in the mid to long-term.
He states the "age time bomb" will not stop and warns of the risks of failing to develop "the right mix of new and experienced talent".
Commenting on the response of organisations to the credit crunch, Mr Warner also emphasises the importance of good communication in their upper echelons, which could be developed through management training.
He says staff need to be told what is happening and what their employers are doing in response to this, suggesting regular messages could help the situation.
Earlier this year, the 2008 Proudfoot Global Productivity Report identified internal communication issues and a shortage of training as the two top barriers to improving productivity.
