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First UK Learning Trends Index published

According to a new survey, 87% of learning managers believe that they can effectively meet the learning needs of their organisation against a backdrop of shrinking resources with 44% of respondents reporting either moderate or substantial cuts to resource provision. 37% of respondents also predicted reductions in staff during the coming six months.

The UK Learning Trends Index was published by leadership and management content provider GoodPractice and The Learning Sanctuary. They plan to publish a new UK Learning Trends Index every six months with the aim of tracking the state of the learning and development (L&D) industry and examining the core issues affecting L&D professionals.

Leadership development is the key issue for 23% of the learning managers surveyed, far ahead of delivering professional/technical skills (11%) with change management and talent management at 10%.

The survey found that informal learning and increasing use of technology is set to grow. 76% of respondents predict a shift to using technologies such as e-learning or virtual delivery with 50% set to increase their use of Web 2.0 technologies such as social networking. 64% of respondents believe they will be more reliant on using informal learning approaches.

With budgets being tight, one in four respondents said they are looking to cut their use of external coaches, and 39% are set to cut outsourced delivery partners. A mixed picture emerges for in-house trainers and instructors with 27% looking to increase usage, 20% decreasing and 53% remaining unchanged.

The survey found that L&D managers are still confident about their own impact and status within their organisations, 56% of respondents predicted increasing their impact on corporate performance, with 52% believing they will increase their status as a key strategic contributor to their organisation.

Peter Casebow, chief executive of GoodPractice, commented: "The results from our first Learning Trends Index provide a snapshot of the current state of the L&D community. On one hand, it shows resources and staff provision for L&D departments continuing to tighten, and on the other hand it shows not only growing confidence in terms of the contribution and impact that L&D managers are having, but a belief that L&D managers can meet the learning needs of their organisation. We would want to examine whether this growing confidence is misplaced and ask if the respondents were too optimistic about their ability to make an impact."

"These results also reveal the growing role of e-learning and Web 2.0 technologies as an enabler to help managers work more effectively with limited resources. It is also interesting to see the continued focus on leadership development within organisations, but we would question whether this is at the detriment of other learning areas, and ask what would be the impact on organisation performance with such a tight focus on leadership development."

The next UK Learning Trends Index will be published in early 2011.

External links

For more information about the UK Learning Trends Index and a copy of the full report, visit: www.goodpractice.com/resources/learning-trends-index/

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