Continuity and change: employers’ training practices and partnerships with training providers

Q5.4 In general, is the nationally accredited training/assessment provided by the external training provider(s) to your workers:

	Firm Size
	1-49 employees		50-99 employees		100-499 employees		500+ employees
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Mostly at the training provider's premises	15	48.4	3	23.1	13	35.1	13	29.5
About half and half	8	25.8	4	30.8	13	35.1	14	31.8
Mostly on-site by the training provider(s)	3	9.7	1	7.7	8	21.6	10	22.7
Mostly on-site delivered by our trainers and moderated by the training provider(s)	5	16.1	5	38.5	3	8.1	7	15.9
Total	31	100.0	13	100.0	37	100.0	44	100.0

Q5.5 Thinking about the training provider with which you have done most of your training business, please rate along the scale from ‘Highly dissatisfied’ to ‘Highly satisfied’ your level of satisfaction with the performance of your training provider partner in the following aspects:

		Firm Size
		1-49 employees		50-99 employees		100-499 employees		500+ employees
		N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
The training provider's ability to establish trust	Satisfied	17	58.6	8	57.1	28	77.8	35	76.1
	Dissatisfied	12	41.4	6	42.9	8	22.2	11	23.9
	Mean	3.8		3.6		4.4		4.2
The quality of the training provider's communication with us	Satisfied	18	62.1	8	57.1	29	76.3	38	82.6
	Dissatisfied	11	37.9	6	42.9	9	23.7	8	17.4
	Mean	3.9		3.7		4.3		4.3
The commitment shown by the training provider's staff to make the partnership(s) a success	Satisfied	17	60.7	9	64.3	27	67.5	39	84.8
	Dissatisfied	11	39.3	5	35.7	13	32.5	7	15.2
	Mean	3.9		3.9		4.2		4.3
The training provider's willingness to customise training to meet our needs	Satisfied	16	61.5	7	50.0	28	71.8	39	84.8
	Dissatisfied	10	38.5	7	50.0	11	28.2	7	15.2
	Mean	3.7		3.9		4.1		4.4
The training provider's success in customising the training	Satisfied	14	53.8	7	50.0	26	72.2	35	76.1
	Dissatisfied	12	46.2	7	50.0	10	27.8	11	23.9
	Mean	3.7		3.6		4.3		4.2
The training provider's openness to experimentation	Satisfied	12	48.0	7	50.0	27	69.2	28	62.2
	Dissatisfied	13	52.0	7	50.0	12	30.8	17	37.8
	Mean	3.7		3.7		4.2		4.0
The training provider's flexibility with staffing arrangements	Satisfied	18	69.2	7	50.0	27	71.1	33	71.7
	Dissatisfied	8	30.8	7	50.0	11	28.9	13	28.3
	Mean	3.8		3.8		4.3		4.1
The training provider's flexibility in providing different delivery modes for the training	Satisfied	14	53.8	9	64.3	29	76.3	34	79.1
	Dissatisfied	12	46.2	5	35.7	9	23.7	9	20.9
	Mean	3.7		3.9		4.2		4.3
The training provider's level of planning within the partnership	Satisfied	16	61.5	5	35.7	28	73.7	38	82.6
	Dissatisfied	10	38.5	9	64.3	10	26.3	8	17.4
	Mean	3.8		3.8		4.3		4.3
The training provider's willingness to adopt a long-term perspective in judging the success of the partnership	Satisfied	14	56.0	9	64.3	31	81.6	34	73.9
	Dissatisfied	11	44.0	5	35.7	7	18.4	12	26.1
	Mean	3.8		3.9		4.4		4.0
The training provider's willingness to make changes to the nature of the off-the-job training	Satisfied	14	56.0	7	50.0	26	70.3	28	65.1
	Dissatisfied	11	44.0	7	50.0	11	29.7	15	34.9
	Mean	3.7		3.6		4.2		3.9

		Firm Size
		1-49 employees		50-99 employees		100-499 employees		500+ employees
		N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
The training provider's willingness to make changes to the nature of the on-the-job training that they deliver	Satisfied	14	60.9	5	41.7	29	74.4	34	77.3
	Dissatisfied	9	39.1	7	58.3	10	25.6	10	22.7
	Mean	3.6		3.5		4.4		4.0
The administrative arrangements the training provider puts in place to manage the day-to-day issues arising in such partnerships	Satisfied	14	56.0	8	57.1	29	76.3	33	73.3
	Dissatisfied	11	44.0	6	42.9	9	23.7	12	26.7
	Mean	3.8		3.8		4.3		4.2

Q5.6 Continuing to think about the same training provider partner, please rate them on the following items regarding your satisfaction with the quality of their training:

		Firm Size
		1-49 employees		50-99 employees		100-499 employees		500+ employees
		N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Skill of the trainer delivering the qualification/skill set	Satisfied	21	70.0	11	84.6	26	65.0	38	82.6
	Dissatisfied	9	30.0	2	15.4	14	35.0	8	17.4
	Mean	4.0		4.1		4.2		4.3
Volume of learning received	Satisfied	17	56.7	8	61.5	30	76.9	37	80.4
	Dissatisfied	13	43.3	5	38.5	9	23.1	9	19.6
	Mean	3.5		3.7		4.4		4.2
Quality of resources provided	Satisfied	15	50.0	10	76.9	29	74.4	40	87.0
	Dissatisfied	15	50.0	3	23.1	10	25.6	6	13.0
	Mean	3.6		4.1		4.3		4.4
Currency of resources provided	Satisfied	14	50.0	7	53.8	28	73.7	38	82.6
	Dissatisfied	14	50.0	6	46.2	10	26.3	8	17.4
	Mean	3.6		3.5		4.4		4.3
Efficient use of learning technologies	Satisfied	15	50.0	7	53.8	31	81.6	38	82.6
	Dissatisfied	15	50.0	6	46.2	7	18.4	8	17.4
	Mean	3.6		3.6		4.4		4.3
Qualification or skill set was assessed at the appropriate level	Satisfied	15	50.0	6	50.0	29	72.5	38	82.6
	Dissatisfied	15	50.0	6	50.0	11	27.5	8	17.4
	Mean	3.7		3.6		4.3		4.3
Quality of the feedback provided to the learner	Satisfied	16	53.3	8	61.5	34	87.2	38	82.6
	Dissatisfied	14	46.7	5	38.5	5	12.8	8	17.4
	Mean	3.6		3.9		4.5		4.3

Q6.1 In an ideal world, over the last 12 months, would you have provided more training for your staff than you were able to do?

	Firm Size
	1-49 employees		50-99 employees		100-499 employees		500+ employees
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Yes	20	43.5	11	68.8	28	70.0	33	66.0
No	26	56.5	5	31.3	12	30.0	17	34.0

Q6.2 How applicable are the following reasons for not providing as much training as you would have liked?

		Firm Size
		1-49 employees		50-99 employees		100-499 employees		500+ employees
		N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Insufficient money available for training	Not applicable	2	10.5	1	9.1	2	7.1	5	15.2
	Somewhat applicable	9	47.4	8	72.7	14	50.0	15	45.5
	Very applicable	8	42.1	2	18.2	12	42.9	13	39.4
Managers have lacked sufficient time to organise training	Not applicable	3	15.0	4	36.4	3	10.7	5	15.2
	Somewhat applicable	11	55.0	3	27.3	12	42.9	15	45.5
	Very applicable	6	30.0	4	36.4	13	46.4	13	39.4
Employees are generally too busy to give training to others	Not applicable	1	5.3	1	9.1	2	7.4	5	15.2
	Somewhat applicable	8	42.1	4	36.4	14	51.9	11	33.3
	Very applicable	10	52.6	6	54.5	11	40.7	17	51.5
Employees are generally too busy to undertake training and development	Not applicable	2	10.5	3	27.3	3	10.7	4	12.1
	Somewhat applicable	8	42.1	6	54.5	15	53.6	13	39.4
	Very applicable	9	47.4	2	18.2	10	35.7	16	48.5
Training is not considered to be a high priority for the establishment, by senior management	Not applicable	6	30.0	4	36.4	6	21.4	13	39.4
	Somewhat applicable	10	50.0	5	45.5	13	46.4	12	36.4
	Very applicable	4	20.0	2	18.2	9	32.1	8	24.2
All our staff are proficient/no pressing business need for a great deal of training	Not applicable	5	26.3	5	45.5	8	28.6	17	51.5
	Somewhat applicable	10	52.6	4	36.4	11	39.3	9	27.3
	Very applicable	4	21.1	2	18.2	9	32.1	7	21.2
More highly trained staff may be poached by other employers	Not applicable	9	47.4	3	27.3	6	22.2	19	57.6
	Somewhat applicable	7	36.8	7	63.6	10	37.0	8	24.2
	Very applicable	3	15.8	1	9.1	11	40.7	6	18.2
No particular reason	Not applicable	8	40.0	7	70.0	14	53.8	23	69.7
	Somewhat applicable	6	30.0	3	30.0	6	23.1	7	21.2
	Very applicable	6	30.0	0	0.0	6	23.1	3	9.1
Other	Not applicable	15	78.9	8	88.9	19	86.4	29	93.5
	Somewhat applicable	3	15.8	0	0.0	2	9.1	0	0.0
	Very applicable	1	5.3	1	11.1	1	4.5	2	6.5

Q6.3 From the list in the previous question (i.e., Q6.2) what is the most important reason for not providing more training?

	Firm Size
	1-49 employees		50-99 employees		100-499 employees		500+ employees
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Insufficient money available for training	4	22.2	3	27.3	10	55.6	13	41.9
Managers have lacked sufficient time to organise training	5	27.8	2	18.2	0	0.0	4	12.9
Employees are generally too busy to give training to others	2	11.1	1	9.1	0	0.0	3	9.7
Employees are generally too busy to undertake training and development	4	22.2	2	18.2	3	16.7	5	16.1
Training is not considered to be a high priority for the establishment, by senior management	0	0.0	1	9.1	1	5.6	4	12.9
All our staff are proficient/no pressing business need for a great deal of training	2	11.1	0	0.0	1	5.6	0	0.0
More highly trained staff may be poached by other employers	0	0.0	1	9.1	0	0.0	1	3.2
No particular reason	1	5.6	0	0.0	2	11.1	0	0.0
Other	0	0.0	1	9.1	1	5.6	1	3.2