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THE WORLD OF industry and commerce has undergone rapid changes in recent years. To continue to thrive, a company must respond to these changes and prepare itself for new ways of doing business.
Recruiting skilled graduates is one answer, but it is equally important not to neglect the potential of your existing staff. The learning of new skills should not stop with the first pay cheque. By continuously developing its entire workforce, a firm not only shows confidence in its employees but can set itself up as a key player at the cutting edge of the business world.
Higher education institutions have an important role here. Universities and HE colleges do not just offer degrees or train people prior to employment. They offer a range of courses for people within employment and contribute to any lifelong learning programme. Higher education has become increasingly responsive to the needs of industry, and many courses are offered for both full-time and part-time study. Many students choose to remain in full-time employment whilst working towards their qualification. Local institutions are a key resource for those wishing to live at home, while the Open University offers a flexible structure for distance learning across the UK.
Courses run at many levels and cover hundreds of subjects, both professionally accredited and academic. It is important to find the right course, and there are now a whole host of organisations and services to make this task easier.
Investors in People provide the national standard for best practice in the training and development of staff. Through their partnerships with The Learning and Skills Council (in England and Wales), Local Enterprise Companies (in Scotland) and the Training and Employment Agency (in Northern Ireland), they provide a comprehensive network of advisors to work with local firms in this process.
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