Employers are increasingly impressed with employees that take time out to study.
This is according to new research by the Chartered Management Institute, which shows that employers are attracted to staff who show commitment to their own professional development, because of the knock-on effect this has on business.
The data, which comes from a series of research projects undertaken over the past four years, has been issued in the run up to ‘Learning at Work’ day on 22 May – a national campaign spearheaded by the Campaign for Learning.
According to the findings, employers accept that their staff will move on to other jobs, but see immediate ‘business need’ as a key factor to encourage learning. Individual respondents also gave a clear indication that they see value in time spent learning; a rating of six out of 10 was given when managers were asked if they had been ‘rewarded and recognised’ for undertaking development programmes.
In addition, 24% of managers said that achieving a qualification led to a promotion and 23% received a salary increase. The same proportion (23%) transferred their skills to a new career and 22% got a new job in the same industry. Just over half claimed that they also gained more respect from colleagues and 70% focused on the opportunity it gave them to ‘refocus’ their career.
Looking ahead five years, one in three employers also believe that their managers will become ‘more concerned about professional development’. More than half argue that managers will also need evidence of transferable skills to move across industry sectors, with a similar proportion (51%) suggesting success will be based on ‘broad business knowledge’.
These findings come in the wake of wider research which revealed that a combination of studying for qualifications and on-the-job experience has overtaken ‘natural ability’ as the key ingredient for successful management and leadership.
Most respondents admitted that ‘taking time out’ to learn new skills improves their self-awareness and interpersonal capabilities. As many as 79% suggested that one practical benefit is the development of their leadership skills whilst 66% believe they are better equipped to deal with interpersonal issues as a result of studying for a qualification.
Tricia Hartley, chief executive at the Campaign for Learning, said: “Learning whilst working can be a considerable challenge, particularly with the pressures we all face to deliver on time, every time. However, it is clear from this research as well as the feedback we receive from the many organisations taking part in Learning at Work Day that there is no substitute for continuous learning, as without this the ability to meet new and changing demands is diminished.”
