E-learning 'may increase for employees'

The use of e-learning to train employees could be on the increase in the future, the results of a new survey have shown.

According to a poll of 254 learning and development professionals conducted by Cegos, 36 per cent of businesses say they will be increasing their use of e-learning next year, Personnel Today reports.

Furthermore, 44 per cent of managers expect their training budgets to remain steady into 2009 while 24 per cent of respondents claim they will increase.

Cegos UK managing director Francis Marshall said: It's reassuring to see that many companies are recognising it is even more important to develop talent in these hard times.

The training of middle managers and the upskilling of senior executives were the most popular areas for development.

According to a spokesperson from ClickAJob, once companies get used to the idea, they will wonder how they ever managed without it.

One huge advantage is that training can be done on a time-shift basis as well as part time, he says.

Key personnel can study on the spot at their own pace without disappearing for days to training centres at the other end of the country, he emphasises.

They're also ready and hands-on when urgent issues come up, still in the loop with day-to-day matters that might need their attention.

HR Zone recently claimed that companies need to retain their most skilled workers if they are to remain ahead of competition during the credit crunch.