Recreational training encourages learning and boosts morale at Associa
Purpose – Describes how membership‐services company Associa has built “recreational training” into its training and development policy and allocates every employee £100 a year to learn a new skill, whether or not related to his or her job role at work. Design/methodology/approach – Contains details of the scheme provided by the company's training manager and director of human resources. Findings – Reveals that employees have undertaken courses ranging from Spanish to water skiing and from jewellery making to Latin. Argues that recreational training is intended to encourage a holistic interest in learning and self‐development, and it also supports the company's desire to be an employer of choice and improve recruitment, retention and staff motivation. Practical implications – Shows that, while the company has no direct measurement of how the training may contribute to, for example, better productivity or higher employee retention, there is a feeling of excitement and positivism when people discuss their training and how pleased they feel to be able to do it and be supported in doing it. Originality/value – Reveals that the company has noticed a greater awareness and appreciation of the value of training as a means to improve one's personal skill base. Starting from a base of very little training being provided, except for some continuing professional development, the company has used recreational training as a means to encourage learning.
Year of publication: |
2005
|
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Published in: |
Human Resource Management International Digest. - Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1758-7166, ZDB-ID 2082534-1. - Vol. 13.2005, 5, p. 37-38
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Publisher: |
Emerald Group Publishing Limited |
Subject: | Training grants | Benefits | Service operations | Human resource management |
Saved in:
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