Training and learning online: Employee support

If your employer doesn't offer training then change the training policy or do it yourself! Here are a few tips.

Persuading employers to increase training
The main barrier to employers offering substantial training is lack of resources. This is not usually lack of cash, as employers realise the need to continually invest.

Ask for training rather than a pay rise. Before you laugh too loudly, consider this: to pay for a £500 course, from after-tax salary, an employee would need to earn over £900. This would cost the employer over £1,000 after National Insurance has been paid.

Alternatively, the employer can supply the employee with a £500 course for £500, or better still, two £500 courses for the same salary cost.

This will be of greater benefit to the employer and, in the medium to long term, probably better value to the employee. But even if you cannot persuade your employer to change its approach to training, get the training yourself!

This section looks at financial support that is available to employees in the UK.

Career development loans
Career Development Loans are financially attractive loans for job-related training and learning courses. You can apply to borrow money to pay for up to 80 per cent of your course fees, as well as the full cost of books, materials and other expenses such as travel and childcare - and living expenses if it's a full-time course.

The Department for Education and Employment pays the interest on the loan while you study. You don't need to pay back the loan until you've finished studying and have found a job.

The scheme is operated by the Department for Education and Employment: www.lifelonglearning.co.uk

Learndirect network
This is a government backed online training network with over 400 courses available online or at over 700 centres across the UK.

Courses cover IT, and other more generic life skills e.g. managing teams and presentation skills. Once registered, you can learn from anywhere with access to the internet. www.learndirect.co.uk

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