Book review: Winning With a Culture of Recognition by Eric Mosley and Derek Irvine
Title: Winning With a Culture of RecognitionAuthor: Eric Mosley and Derek IrvineISBN 978-0-9566291-0-4 Designing and implementing a recognition programme for any business is difficult, especially in tough times when the ‘cultural’ side of a business can be neglected in favour of ‘commercial’ survival. What Irvine and Mosley have done with this compact volume is to […]
Financial Times to offer first non-exec director post grad course
The Financial Times will start offering the UK’s first formally accredited post-graduate qualification for non-executives directors from 1 September this year. The six-month-long Non-Executive Director Certificate is based on the UK Corporate Governance Code and will be accredited by Edexcel in a bid to support the professionalisation of the sector. Lesley Stephenson, a Financial Times publisher […]
And our survey said… the HRzone member survey results
Last month we asked the whole audience several questions about what type of information they want from us, as well as in which format, how they want it delivered, what subjects they are most interested in and what they’d like to see more of. I’d like to share with you some of the results most […]
Employers not buying into value of apprenticeships
Although the coalition government claims that apprenticeships generate a £40 return for the economy for each £1 of investment, two thirds of employers do not believe on-the-job training is appropriate for their organisation. According to a study commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to explore the economic value offered by government-funded post-19 […]
Work placements should be more accessible, says Clegg
Nick Clegg will urge employers to sign up to a “business compact” today in order to open up work placements beyond those young people who are “sharp-elbowed and well connected”. The Deputy Prime Minister will make the call as part of his social mobility strategy, which is due to be published this morning. The national […]
Vocational training scheme to help jobless
At the same time as the coalition government revealed that Jobseekers who fail to take up compulsory training will lose their benefits, the business community has warned against sidelining vocational education in favour of more academic subjects. As part of the government’s new ‘claimant contract’, Employment Minister Chris Grayling indicated that people who were unable […]
Encouragement from managers increases staff engagement
There is a direct correlation between staff engagement and the amount of guidance, feedback and autonomy that managers are willing to provide workers, according to research. In general terms, employees feel more supported if their bosses focus on what they do, feel good about themselves in their role and act in a way that demonstrates commitment […]
Book review: Brilliant Business Writing by Neil Taylor
Title: Brilliant Business Writing (2nd Edition)Author: Neil Taylor ISBN: 9780273744580 Brilliant Business Writing (2nd Edition, Neil Taylor, Pearson Books, 2011) is absolutely jam-packed with straightforward, realistic and unpretentious advice. It is an easy read that is well structured and written in an un-patronising and uncomplicated tone. Don’t be put off by expecting a 150 page […]
Wellbeing at work: Ease employees’ money worries
Financial issues affect all types of employees yet it’s a subject that’s often ignored in the workplace. However when this type of issue gets out of hand it can have serious repercussions for employee performance and productivity, not to mention attendance and engagement. Eugene Farrell, Immediate Past Chair UK Employee Assistance Professionals Association (www.eapa.org.uk), looks […]
Book review: The Art of Action by Stephen Bungay
Once upon a time an entrepreneur was presenting a product to a large player in the software field… After the meeting, one of the key heads from the vendor company approached the hopeful, and said: “All year long people come in here and say what they are going to do. You and your team have […]
Help your boss manage – by managing them
Employees must be encouraged to proactively ‘manage upwards’ if they are to support their bosses in performing more effectively, research has revealed. According to a survey undertaken by management and sales training consultancy Krauthammer, some 36% of workers feel that their bosses act in a penalising or dismissive fashion. Although 95% would like their managers […]
TrainingZone Live returns
On 16 May, TrainingZone takes over the modernist confines of Dexter House in the nation’s capital to usher TrainingZone Live into its sophomore year. Here in Bristol’s medialand that is Siftmedia, a thought ocurred to us. The events team, editors and salespeople attend a lot of conferences and events over the course of a […]
HR headmistress: How to manage workplace performance
Kate Russell, the HR headmistress, provides this to brush up the basic skills of experienced pros and give beginners a headstart. Lesson 1: promises v performance – how to manage performance in the organisation. Mae West said that an ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises. Poor work performance is one of the most […]
Vox pops from Learning Technologies 2011 – Day 1
Last week HRZone joined TrainingZone at the Learning Technologies event at Olympia. We asked attendees: What changes would YOU like to see in L&D in 2011?
Cable announces funding for on-job training
Business Secretary Vince Cable has unveiled plans to increase annual funding for on-the-job training by £222 million to hit £1.4 billion this year in a bid to create 100,000 new places. To mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week, Cable has also urged employers to follow the lead of firms such as British Airways, […]
Invest in customer service skills, urges survey
As the consumer spending market becomes increasingly fragile, organisations must invest in developing staff customer service skills in order to avoid losing business and suffering the effects of a tarnished reputation. According to a survey among 2,082 UK adults undertaken by YouGov on behalf of training provider Kaplan, some 47% indicated that they had boycotted […]
Book review: ‘Strategic employee surveys’ – Dr Jack W Wiley
Member Jeremy Thorn reviews Jack Wiley’s book, ‘Strategic employee surveys’ for HRzone.co.uk. Find out what he has to say about the title. Title: ‘Strategic employee surveys – evidence-based guidelines for driving organizational success’, by Dr Jack W Wiley. ISBN 978-0-470-88970-1 – Jossey Bass £26.99 Review by Jeremy Thorn I am a sucker for being impressed […]
Sealing the black hole in HR and careers advice
There is a looming black hole in HR, careers advice and skills development that could blight a generation. HR professionals, in particular, will be facing some of the most challenging conditions seen in the UK since the 1930s. The UK government wants to help but funds are limited. It wants people to embrace the […]
Gove reforms will not provide employability
A financial services employers’ body has slammed the Education Secretary’s plans for school reform, claiming that a renewed focus on academic rather than vocational subjects will not provide employers with the skills they need. Education Secretary Michael Gove outlined his plans for reform to Parliament earlier this week, indicating that there should be a return […]
The future’s bright – the future’s online…
Online learning returns as training providers and HR acknowledge past limitations writes Dell Education Services’ Martin Hill. In the late 90s the rise of out-of-classroom, electronically-supported learning and teaching, commonly known as elearning was seen as the future of training. For IT managers stuck with ineffective, out-of-date IT infrastructure, it was […]
