News

30th March 2007

Free Goldmine to Improve your Training Prospects

A new website launches today with the aim of showcasing how training has brought dividends to businesses which have invested in it.

The Training Databank – www.trainingdatabank.com – is a free online resource containing case studies of a selection of National Training Award winners from the past five years.

The annual National Training Awards recognise businesses, organisations and individuals that achieve outstanding success through training.

The Training Databank is searchable by training need, sector and region.  Each case study takes an in-depth look at the development, implementation and results of an organisation’s training programme

Case studies featured on the website range from large companies such as BMW and Intercontinental Hotels Group through to small family-owned businesses such as Taylors’, a fish and chip shop in Stockport.

Each case study shows the dividends training can bring companies that invest in learning and development says Jacqui Henderson CBE, Chief Executive of UK Skills, which runs the awards on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

“The Training Databank is a goldmine for anyone interested in successful training or growing their business.  I think everyone who uses it will find it useful in helping them with their organisation’s learning and development.

“Sometimes a business may see training as a burden – more a cost than an investment – but the stories on this website will help them see how training targeted to a specific business need can boost the bottom line in very tangible ways.

“Every year we collect many stories from our National Training Award winners about how training has boosted efficiency, reduced staff turnover or increased profits.  We’ve set up this website because these stories are too good for us to keep to ourselves.

“The website should be of interest to anyone interested in successful training whether they be a trainer or HR manager. 

“We particularly hope that small and medium enterprises will find this website useful.  SMEs make up 99.9% of enterprises in the private sector and account for more than half the employment in the UK.  They will be able to find case studies on the website on how other SMEs have succeeded in business through learning and development.”

Skills Minister Phil Hope welcomed the new website saying, “Training is vital to the UK’s prosperity and success.  The Leitch Review of Skills has shown we need to invest in skills to unlock the potential of our people which is our country’s greatest natural resource.  I’m delighted to see that these organisations on the Training Databank have been doing just that and that their success now is available for everyone to learn from.”

For more information contact:
Kathryn Crookenden, Communications Executive, UK Skills
Ph. 020 7612 9261 or email kathryn.crookenden@ukskills.org.uk

Vikki Light, Communications Manager, UK Skills
Ph. 020 7612 9260 or email vikki.light@ukskills.org.uk

Notes to Editors

• The Training Databank (www.trainingdatabank.co.uk) features case studies from a selection of National Training Award winners from 2001.  It is searchable by training need, sector and region.

• The National Training Awards celebrate those who achieve lasting success through exceptionally effective training.

• The National Training Awards operate throughout the UK. UK Skills manages the awards on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills and organises the awards in England. In the devolved nations the awards are:
• managed in Northern Ireland by the Department for Employment and Learning
• supported by the Scottish Executive and promoted in partnership with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise
• organised by The Welsh Assembly Government in partnership with UK Skills on behalf of DFES.

• UK Skills is not for profit organisation which champions vocational skills and learning for work through awards and competitions.

• The National Training Awards are supported by Investors in People.