13
BILD Comment
News feature
Challenging
loved business mantra of “people are our
greatest asset”; it makes a mockery of
the shiny Investors in People plaques in
reception areas up and down the country;
times
and it creates organisations devoid of
people with the attitudes, skills and
behaviours required to cope in times of
radical change.
Ensuring that learning and development
Under the umbrella of the UK Commission
continues to be a central focus amidst the
for Employment and Skills, in an open
letter published in several daily papers,
global economic crisis is essential on many
business leaders and union representatives
urged employers not to cut training costs
levels. Karen Velasco discusses the latest in order to weather the current economic
news in the national papers, and its impact
storm. “Now is precisely the time to keep
investing in the skills and talents of our
on the learning industry
people”, the letter stated. “It is the people
we employ who will get us through. When
markets are shrinking and order books
R
ecently, while taking a well-earned In the business world there has long been falling, it is their commitment, productivity
(and slightly wet) break in the Lake the view that when times get tough, and ability to add value that will keep us
District, two news items caught my learning and development budgets are competitive. Investing now in building
eye. “Slash training at your peril,” warned a the first to get cut. As a learning and new skills will put us in the strongest
full-page open letter in The Times, and “Do development professional with many years’ position as the economy recovers.” Wise
five simple things a day to stay sane,” advised experience, this is something that I’ve words indeed. Words, I’m sure, that
another issue of the same paper. Like most witnessed first hand, in both the private anyone involved in managing learning and
people, news of the ailing global economy and public sector. It has always struck development has, at some point in their
concerns me, and so I was intrigued to read me as a short-term, knee-jerk reaction, career, voiced to decision-makers and
items that would potentially benefit me, and one which generates more problems budget holders. On reading the open letter
personally and professionally. than it solves. It goes against that much- I must admit to feeling slightly •••••
Learning Magazine
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