Businesses urged to invest and grow their own employees…
Businesses aiming for future growth and success should be investing in training to help “grow their own” employees.
That was the advice given to business leaders attending the first COGS Conference on Monday (June 15) at Shrewsbury Town Football Club in Shropshire.
Key speaker Anita Bickerdike, managing director of Shrewsbury-based Positive Intention, said all businesses, large and small, needed to invest more heavily in training.
She said: “A staggering 71 per cent of employees stay with an employer because of opportunities to learn and develop whilst 40 per cent of employees leaving a company, do so because of a lack of training.
“Training and developing staff makes good business sense enabling business owners and managers to maximise return on investment in one of their most valuable assets – their people. People create excellence.
“To be most effective training must target both business and individual needs and provide follow up support to transfer learning into workplace actions for real results.” Anita added that developing staff was also pivotal to preventing against future skills shortages.
“There are already skills gaps in many sectors of industry such as construction and these are likely to increase with an aging workforce and fewer people entering the trade.
“Trained workers are in demand and head hunting good workers is a common problem so there has never been a better time for businesses to grow their own employees.
“Supporting new apprenticeships and training and developing existing staff increases loyalty, aids succession planning and ensures businesses are placed for future success.”
Hosted by Shropshire Council, Telford and Wrekin Council, NHS and the Federation of Small Businesses the COGS Conference was an event for county businesses to think, talk and do business.
Anita, who supports business growth through leadership and people development founded Positive Intention in 2013 following a long, successful career working as a senior solicitor, trainer and coach.
She specialises in leadership, people development and change management working in industry, commerce and with sports’ national governing bodies.
For further information visit the website www.positiveintention.co.uk or contact Anita at anita@positiveintention.co.uk or on 07539 344433.
