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By Elizabeth Eyre (January 2008 Issue)
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Trainers called to invent their own future

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it” – this was the message from Graham O’Connell, one of the keynote speakers at the Institute of Training and Occupational Learning (ITOL) annual convention, held last month at the British Library.

O’Connell, head of organisational learning and standards at the National School for Government, told the audience that trainers had to address the needs of their organisations by supporting the business as advisors, brokers and evaluators; as providers of OD solutions and as facilitators of solutions, and learning and subject specialists. He urged L&D professionals to take the ‘driving seat’ to ensure that the future isn’t determined by external factors but driven by the professionals who should be thinking about how they can shape the future of their profession.

To find out more about ITOL and their convention last month visit www.itol.org

Gloomy forecast for 2008 from the CIPD

John Philpott, chief economist at the CIPD, reflects on the UK labour market in his annual Barometer of HR Trends and Prospects and says: “The report shows that in 2008, jobs will be harder to come by and this could reinforce the impact of the economic slowdown, possibly necessitating bigger cuts in interest rates than currently anticipated to head off the threat of recession and a worrying prolongation of the slowdown into 2009.

“Despite a considerable amount of organisational restructuring in the past decade, large-scale redundancies have been running at historically low levels. This is likely to change in 2008, with more HR professionals having to deal with the particularly tricky task of handling compulsory redundancies.

This will present a challenge to those HR professionals who have not had to walk the tightrope of laying-off large numbers of people while ensuring that people who keep their jobs remain committed and motivated.”

To read more of John’s Philpott’s reflections on the CIPD’s research findings from 2007, and his predictions for 2008, visit www.cipd.co.uk/surveys

New association for independent practitioners

TrainerBase, founded in 2001 as an online database for trainers, has changed its constitution and become the Association for Learning Practitioners (ALP).

Whilst TrainerBase as the new association will continue to act as a channel that ‘helps trainers find business and businesses find trainers’, the new company will expand its collaborative remit in support of its members.

Raising the credibility and professionalism of freelance and independent practitioners is central to their mission and to achieve this, they have developed a ‘standard’ for learning practitioners which is being launched on February 23, 2008. Members who meet the standard will be designated ‘Certified Learning Practitioners’ and promoted to the growing number of purchasers contacting TrainerBase for recommendations.

To find out more about the CLP contact Peter Mayes on +44 (0) 1239 711544

Membership drive produces partnership

The British Institute of Learning and Development (BILD) has joined forces with the Training Foundation in a bid to boost its membership.

The BILD, which became an institute last summer, is now approaching the TAP-qualified trainers on the Foundation’s ‘considerable’ database.

BILD’s board authorised an approach to the Foundation last year. “We were seeking organisations that might see us as a natural ‘home’ for the large cohorts of trainers they were involved with,” said BILD chairman, Jack Wills.

“The Training Foundation was a natural starting point, with its large throughput of learning and development professionals. Consequently, BILD approached the Foundation with a view to assessing the possibilities of their TAP-qualified trainers joining BILD.

“The BILD board is grateful to the Training Foundation – and in particular Adrian Snook – for the positive way in which they have entered into this membership drive initiative.”

 

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