More than 70 % of Hampshire
firms say a major reason for their success is down to first class IT
systems – but training the workforce to use it properly is vital. That’s the
message from Fareham- based business training
specialists SLH (Southern Learning
Hub), after recent research
revealed that more than seven
out of 10 employers say their
staff need to get better at using
IT.
Most companies in the 21st Century realise that computer skills are an essential part of running a successful business, but Denise Candy, Chief Executive of SLH, says many employers fail to target their IT training where it’s needed the most.
She explained: 
Different
employees need different skills
according to their individual
roles, and the challenge for
managers is how to assess what
abilities their staff already have,
and which new skills they need
to do their job effectively.
Unfortunately, the truth is that many organisations take an educated guess about their workforce’s current level of IT skills – and then complain when their systems are not used to their full potential.
Firms must get to grips with
this and not put training on
the back burner. This includes
not just training in IT skills, but
using online services to improve
staff qualifications.
It is often the smaller businesses
which need training the
most but which have the most
difficulty in identifying and
arranging the training of their
employees, because of both
time and financial constraints.
SLH is at the forefront of the fight to remedy the lack of training and time small companies suffer with. It not only offers a huge range of online courses to thousands of businesses and individuals across the region, but it also conducts the initial training analysis which is then converted into a bespoke training solution. Courses can either be taken online in the workplace, or a more ‘blended’ approach with some time being spent in the classroom. One of its main target areas is small and medium-sized companies and in the last year SLH achieved a major goal of enrolling 16,000 employees of SMEs onto online IT training courses. The Business was recently shortlisted for a Hampshire Business of the Year award, works with local companies to implement ITQ – a nationally recognised qualification geared to improving computer skills. Candy said: The course is designed to boost IT user performance and starts with an evaluation of each organisation sation’s requirements, before identifying any skills gaps and designing and delivering training which is individually tailored to each firm’s needs.
Then a final assessment –
which checks that the requirements
of both the company
and national standards have
been met – leads to the ITQ
award.
Feedback from our customers
has been extremely positive
about ITQ, and we are now
very keen to extend the network
of companies using it.
Our clients like its flexibility in
recognising that IT needs vary
from job to job, plus the fact
that previous qualifications can
count towards it. They also like
the idea that all of this can be
delivered at the workplace,
eliminating hours spent learning
off site. But most importantly
employers know that
their staff are using excel, word
and email efficiently.
As well as ITQ a large proportion of the online programmes run by SLH are provided by learndirect, which offers a wide variety of IT courses specifically designed for business. These include subjects such as spreadsheets, web design and desktop publishing for basic users, and web development, internet security and ecommerce, aimed at more specialist requirements. Also as part of learndirect, SLH offers Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) courses in areas such as team leading. The courses are popular and the results speak for themselves. Recent research by the Government’s University for Industry found that e-learning provides:
- Immediate uses and benefits
- A high quality, good value alternative to in-house training
- A less pressurised style of learning
- And enables the employer to offer training to a wider proportion of its workforce.
Candy added: A commitment to
staff development is fundamental
to the drive to raise the UK’s IT skills
levels, and to increase productivity
and business performance. E-learning has a highly
focused and affordable way
of training staff, and I would
strongly advise all businesses
to consider taking advantage
of its benefits - before they are
left behind by their more skilled
competitors.
Details about courses run by SLH contact CEO Denise Candy 01329-834920
