News:

* CIPD Coaching at Work Conference  

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is holding its 2008 Coaching at Work Conference on 25 - 26 November in London.
According to the 2008 Annual Learning and Development survey carried out by the CIPD, 71% of organisations use coaching. Of those that do, most (72%) consider it very or fairly effective, However, the survey found that over half (53%) fail to link coaching to overall learning and development strategies and only 8% formally evaluate the effectiveness of coaching.The CIPD says this year's Coaching at Work Conference will look at the difference between perceived effectiveness and real results by focusing on initiatives that allow coaching to unlock potential and drive a measurable difference during difficult times.
Dr John McGurk, learning, training and development adviser at the CIPD, says: "Coaching is uniquely fitted for turbulent times and is the best facilitator of change for people and organisations. The credit crunch and the predicted recession will require difficult decisions, and tough choices. Coaching allows these difficult issues to be discussed in a supportive and involving atmosphere, which maximises motivation and helps build employee engagement.
"If we are to come out of this difficult period renewed and revitalised then coaching is an essential tool not an optional extra. There will be pressure for cutbacks on all kinds of development activities and we must ensure coaching delivers real value. However, sustainable well planned and appropriately resourced coaching programmes will build capability. This conference will drive home the need for clarity on coaching objectives and revisit the skill set for coaching needed at all levels to engender a truly sustainable coaching culture."
As well as case studies from KPMG and Northumbrian Water, the conference will also include a live one-to-one coaching demonstration from Graham Alexander.

* Government doubles apprenticeships commitment   

Ministers have called for urgent action from the public sector to increase apprenticeship numbers during the global downturn. They argue that this is key if more people are to get the jobs they want in tougher times.
Over 1,000 apprentices will work in central government departments and agencies this academic year, more than double the original target, Skills Secretary John Denham and Schools Secretary Ed Balls announced last week - but they call for a further expansion.
In January 2008, civil service employers committed to expanding the number of apprenticeship places available in the public sector with 500 new apprentices beginning their training in government departments and agencies from September this year through a pathfinder, co-ordinated by their sector skills council, Government Skills. The new apprentices span sixteen government departments, including: the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills; the Department for Children, Schools and Families; the Department for Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Justice.
Already over 100 employees have begun their apprenticeships in the civil service covering a range of jobs including engineering, working as immigration officers, working in Ministers' offices and driving test examiners. Many of the apprenticeships will include a qualification in business administration, IT, team leading and customer service. The Ministry of Justice and UK Border Agency have committed to 350 and 180 apprenticeship places respectively.
At a summit in central London last week, Ministers called on public sector leaders from organisations such as councils and NHS Trusts to follow the private sector's example and grasp the opportunities offered by apprenticeships to improve the skills of new recruits and their existing workforce. They argued that in the current economic climate it is even more important than ever before that the number of public sector apprentices keeps pace with those in the private sector.
Skills Secretary John Denham said: "We have rescued apprenticeships with the number of people taking them trebling since 1997. And we want to make them a mainstream option for young people and adults.
"However the public sector has not kept pace with other employers in embracing the opportunities offered by apprenticeships. It is essential that we now match its growth. Public sector apprenticeships are going to be even more important in the current economic climate, and they offer a key opportunity to enable young people and adults to reach their potential and help see us through the current difficulties.
"The fact that these apprentices are involved in so many activities across the Government is practical proof that apprenticeships are changing. It is no longer just about construction and plumbing, but about training people for great career jobs right across the workforce.
Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls said: "Apprenticeships are an increasingly popular option for young people and we have successfully doubled the number of places available in the last decade. It is therefore right that Government leads by example and these public sector apprenticeships will offer real opportunities for people to gain the experience and skills they need.

* IDM offers free 'training to go' at ad :tech

Over 200 employees at the First Bus depot in Hayes will be able to take advantage of courses run by Uxbridge College, thanks to the opening of a new learning.
The Institute of Direct Marketing will be offering bite-size versions of some of its newest training courses free to visitors at this year's ad:tech event in London. On Wednesday September 24 speakers at the IDM Academy will deliver a range of taster sessions including social media, affiliate marketing, email, writing for search engines, behavioural targeting online and mobile marketing.
Much of the material will be from the Institute's newest offerings, the IDM Digital Marketing Boosters. In addition there will be a keynote session delivered by Peter Cowley, Managing Director for Digital Media at Endemol UK, entitled 'Advertising Opportunities in Original Digital Content'.
IDM programme director, Joanna King said: "The schedules of today's marketing professionals are busier than ever, but there is also intense pressure for them to keep up with the relentless pace of digital marketing techniques and technologies. The Academy sessions are designed to deliver a knowledge injection that is fast, easy to absorb and practical enough to be immediately applicable in the workplace.
"For details of ad: tech IDM Academy programme and timings, please visit http://www.theidm.com/adtech08
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* Report finds employers nurturing talent to save costs 

According to a new report from Cranfield School of Management, organisations that invest in their staff are best placed to save money (reported by 44 per cent of respondents); improve staff motivation (33 per cent); and increase employee retention (52 per cent). The Nurturing Talent Report, commissioned by learndirect Business, set out to examine the impact of external recruitment versus developing internal talent. It found employers making strategic rather than operational staff development decisions are best placed to achieve these benefits. For example, the report says successful organisations are typified by those that use formal training policies to nurture talent (45 per cent). While less successful organisations were more likely to train staff on an ad hoc basis (46 per cent).
However, although the report highlights training and development can have significant benefits such as increased staff motivation and retention, it found that only a third (34 per cent) of employers have a formal training strategy.
The report also found that over three quarters of employers (78 per cent) see skills development as more beneficial to their organisation compared to recruiting staff externally.
Dr Emma Parry, Senior Research Fellow at Cranfield School of Management, who authored the report, said: "With training budgets arguably amongst the first to go in a recession, this research demonstrates that growing your own is an effective way for organisations to obtain the skills they need while saving money.
"For employers, the nurturing talent concept means managing and developing employees to achieve business goals. This could include training; employee coaching; staff mentoring; and job enrichment to stretch employees with new tasks."
Sarah Jones, Chief Executive of Ufi, the organisation responsible for learndirect and learndirect Business, said: "Nurturing staff is a vital strategy for employers, whatever the economic situation although, in tougher times it can become a challenge as other business demands take priority. However, as this research highlights, organisations do not just stop hiring during an economic downturn - they simply work harder to ensure their available resources are allocated more effectively.
"Organisations must focus on nurturing talent if they are to survive, grow and succeed. As a CEO, I know the continuous development and growth of people is inextricably linked to business performance. At Ufi we have a structured process of evaluation and assessment to help ensure employees realise their full potential. Each member of staff has a structured development plan, which is aligned to specific business and individual needs.
"As we've seen, the business case for developing staff is compelling. Effective training can reduce staff turnover and absenteeism, improve motivation, increase productivity, help boost and improve customer satisfaction. By focusing resources on nurturing existing talent, organisations can ensure they reap significant rewards."

Events:

ReLIVE08
Researching Learning in Virtual Environments
20-21 November 2008
Milton Keynes, UK

Coaching at Work Conference (CIPD)
25-26 November 2008
London, UK

Online Educa Berlin
14th International Conference on Technology Supported Learning and Training
December 3 - 5 2008
Berlin, Germany

BETT 2009
14-17 January 2009
London, UK

Learning Technologies
28- 29 January 2009
Olympia 2, London, UK

The Education Show 2009
26-28 March 2009
NEC Birmingham, UK

HRD 2009
21-23 April 2009
London, UK