Time to train?

The regulations may not yet be a year old, but the British Chamber of Commerce is calling for the Time to Train regulations, launched in April 2010, to be scrapped

The regulations meant that employees had the right to request time off in order to attend training courses or business study, and that employers had to formally consider the idea before making a decision. Although currently the regulations are only available to companies employing 250 or more staff, next spring they were due to be extended to all businesses. The regulations are now undergoing a five-week consultation to determine their future. Speaking at the launch of the Government consultation on the regulations, Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, commented:

“Since its introduction earlier this year, the right to request time to train has opened new doors for workers to get the skills they need to further their careers. Ten million workers received no training last year. Reducing existing support for staff will send out a powerful mes- sage that the UK Government and its business representatives do not consider skills a priority – a short-term attitude that will damage our future economic competitiveness.” So, how do Executive PA Magazine readers feel about their own training opportunities and the prospect of losing the right to train?

42 » www.executivepa.com » Aug/Sept 2010