Consider time for training

Introduction

The right to request time to train applies across Great Britain to employees in all organisations with at least 250 employees. This right will be extended to cover employees in all businesses from 6 April 2011.

Employees' requests can be to undertake accredited programmes leading to a qualification, or for unaccredited training to help them develop specific skills relevant to their job, workplace or business. While employee requests may involve agreeing time away from their duties, the primary focus of the new right is about agreeing relevant training with your staff.

As an employer, you are required to consider any requests and respond within a set timeframe. You can turn down requests when you have a good business reason to do so, including where you do not believe the training will help improve business performance. The new right closely follows the model used for agreeing requests under the flexible working arrangements.

This guide is designed to help employers, human resources managers and others with responsibility for dealing with requests to understand their responsibilities under the new right, and the responsibilities of your employees.

This is only applicable to England, Scotland and Wales. The information is not relevant to businesses in Northern Ireland.

For a guide to the new legislation click here (Thanks to Business Link East Midlands)