Business start-ups need 'skills trainer' recognition

Date: 24th November 2008

Business start-ups must be acknowledged for the contributions they make to employee training, according to one organisation.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) believes that the sector goes totally unrecognised for its efforts in on-the-job training.

Research by the FSB showed that 70 per cent of growing business start-ups employed staff members who learned while working, while 50 per cent had employees being given training by a superior.

National policy chairman of the FSB, John Walker, said: "The role small businesses play in … training the UK's workforce should be properly acknowledged and the achievements of small firm employees actually recognised under official accreditation."

He added that in the presently challenging financial climate, it was vital that the government and employers invested in skills to support business start-ups.

Last month, the skills secretary John Denham unveiled a £350 million package to help boost training and development for business start-ups.