New research from testing certification firm Bureau Veritas reveals that, in recent years, L&D spending in the UK has grown by 11% to an average of £1,068 per learner, with e-learning experiencing the largest spike, up from 7% in 2009 to 19% in 2016.
Bureau Veritas has welcomed the findings, adding that organisations are now recognising that virtual learning has a great role to play in terms of convenience and optimising efficiencies, as many employees now prefer to access courses remotely via their tablet or smartphone.
It comes as recent figures from international HR consultancy firm Brandon Hall Group show that almost half (48%) of organisations are exploring new technologies as their top L&D priority over the next 12 months.
At the top of the agenda for technology exploration is how organisations can incorporate social and collaborative tools as well as mobile delivery, research from the same study revealed.
Anticipating this wider functionally, Bureau Veritas recently launched its Virtual Classrooms initiative, which provides online courses that can be undertaken on mobile devices such as a smartphone or tablet.
Expanding on the traditional e-learning format, the Virtual Classroom online courses include live face-to-face teaching provided by genuine industry experts, which allow the firm to train people anywhere in the world as if they were all in a room together.
‘Organisations are now recognising that virtual learning has a great role to play in terms of convenience and optimising efficiencies.’
Darren McGrath, Training Director at Bureau Veritas, said: “We welcome the increased learning and development spending on technology and e-learning, which shows the willingness of organisations to invest in their staff.
“It’s great to see companies investing in digital training and recognising that the digital revolution and smartphone boom has triggered huge changes in how we access, consume, discuss, and share content. Naturally, L&D is following suit, with more learning now taking place outside a traditional classroom.
McGrath added: “However, despite technological advances, the basic tenets of good teaching still apply, including the use of experienced trainers who come with invaluable industry knowledge and are dedicated to providing comprehensive training programmes using a practical approach to instruction. All of our courses have fully integrated exercises and workshops for students to immediately apply and reinforce their learning upon introduction of every new concept.”
“Bureau Veritas’ Virtual Classrooms are an online tutor-led training room and, unlike traditional e-learning courses, are live and led by a real tutor, giving delegates the opportunity to interact with each other and ask the tutor any questions.”
For further information, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk.