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Business leaders give strong backing to vocational education

New findings released today reveal that UK plc holds vocational qualifications in high esteem and recognises the role industry has to play in the provision of such education, but is failing to take sufficient action.

The poll*, commissioned by Foundation Degrees, found that 88% of directors state the need for industry to commit to increasing skills across the sectors by direct involvement in course provision. However, at present, only 25% of business leaders say that their company is involved in the design and delivery of vocational training.

Two-thirds of the company directors questioned believe that their sector is feeling the effects of skills shortages, while more than half of respondents claim their own businesses have suffered directly.

Against this background, business leaders are quick to recognise the benefits of vocational qualifications:

• 89% of directors see a clear link between vocational training and increased profitability
• 88% of directors say that training helps up-skill existing staff and improves staff satisfaction
• 79% of directors believe work-based learning provides excellent preparation for individuals entering the workplace

The poll shows that UK businesses demonstrate strong commitment to the concept of work-based learning. 84% of directors feel that senior management within their firm and sector are definitely not dismissive of vocational qualifications. More than half of all directors who didn't do a vocational qualification at the time of entering their industry believe that to have done so would have benefited their own career.

The findings also highlight a number of practical issues to be faced, in terms of companies exploiting the potential of vocational training to up-skill their staff. The poll revealed that while directors view themselves as enlightened with regard to vocational education, they see the rest of their company as less so. While 79% of directors say that they personally recognise the benefits of giving time off work for vocational training, they claim that 42% of their company would disagree.

While 43% of directors state that their training budget is restrictive, most companies claim to be doing their best to redress the balance of skills. 80% of companies are willing to support staff by offering them time of work to train, while more than two-thirds of companies will also pay for such courses. However, if companies were to play a greater role in the design and delivery of such courses, the return on this investment is likely to increase.

Paul Davies, spokesperson for Foundation Degrees, commented: "The poll findings show that company directors have a crucial re-educational job to do, tackling the mental barriers that exist towards vocational education within their own organisations. We would encourage directors to lead from the front by championing at board level the recognition of vocational training as central to profitability and then to take measures to integrate this in their company's HR policy. Only then will they start to bridge their skills gap.

"Foundation Degrees have partnership with employers at the heart of the qualification and as such offer a practical solution for employers struggling to meet their skills needs. By becoming involved in the design and delivery of Foundation Degrees, employers can "grow their own" on two levels – by taking on graduates with skills directly relevant to their industry, as well as upskilling existing staff to ensure that they are performing to their optimum potential."

For further information on Foundation Degrees vist: www.foundationdegree.org.uk

*Source: Consumer Analysis Group. Survey base: 216 directors from companies with 50 or more employees across the UK.

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