The E-Learning Revolution How Technology Is Driving a New Training Paradigma

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Policy and implementation vastly different animals

An article for the New Zealand Association for Training and Development which discusses the divide between intent and practice on skills development

Apprenticeships: silver bullet or hard slog?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review apprenticeship policy in the UK and to present examples of good practice. Design/methodology/approach – The approach takes the form of a review of three cases. Findings – Apprenticeships are not an easy option. An apprenticeship scheme, and indeed any training initiative, will not command support within an organisation unless it can be seen to assist the business in economic terms. Context is critical. Practical implications – The paper argues for a more realistic assessment of the role of apprenticeship at the level of government policy and in the organisation. Originality/value – The paper offers a different and more measured perspective on apprenticeships, which contrast with current uncritical hype and over-selling. </jats:sec

A long journey to a cul-de-sac: a reflection on UK Skills Policy

Skills and training policy will be a significant issue at the next UK general election in 2015 and youth unemployment is likely to be especially prominent. However, there has been a consistent failure to address the underlying problem and to consider its causes. Instead an increase in the number of apprenticeships, now increasingly loosely defined, has been seized upon as a solution by all sides in the debate. As a result another policy failure is likely. The article concludes with an alternative proposal, based on a change in the Companies Act