Top-level training delivers bottom-line rewards

A “turbo-charged” learning and development programme delivered a 677 per cent return on investment in its first year for a leading recruitment specialist.

Carmen Watson, Chair of Pertemps Network Group, said the statistic demonstrated the value of investing in talent and warned that those who don’t will struggle to find and retain the right people.

Carmen was speaking at a Skills Share event organised by City & Guilds and attended by HRH The Princess Royal.

A member of the City & Guilds Foundation Committee, she said Pertemps, based in Meriden, West Midlands, had received a Princess Royal Training Award for its learning and development programme focused on further upskilling sales consultants.

She chaired a panel discussion on “The Instrumental role of training in achieving core organisational priorities” to discuss the importance of investment in training to create a productive and progressive workplace, focused on achieving sales, productivity and growth.

Andy Long, People Development Director at Pertemps, said: “We took a hard look at our learning programmes on the back of Covid and have, effectively, turbo-charged our development plans to help people upskill and be the best they can be.

“The return on investment from our first cohort was phenomenal and the programme has been rolled out across the business. It is helping us attract and retain the right people at a time when the marketplace is difficult.

“Businesses not looking to invest in their people in this way are more likely to struggle with good staff going forward.”