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Train your way to more pay

Frustrated by your current career? Not sure how to develop your skills in order to progress to the next level and get the extra responsibility, job satisfaction and money that you feel you deserve? It could be that you are ready to get some extra training and give your career that all-important boost.

Despite business spending a staggering £33bn each year on training and skills development, the government, and British industry itself, concedes that more could be done. In 2006, the government published The Lietch Review ('Skills in the UK - the long term challenge'), which set out to identify the optimal mix of skills Britain needs to develop by 2020 to maximise economic growth, productivity and social justice.

A key component of Leitch was that qualifications should provide "economically valuable" skills. If we are to achieve these targets, qualifications must be reformed to reflect the skills employers need. Put simply, many of the qualifications currently on offer do not cover the economically valuable skills that employers want.

So that's what the government thinks. In the meantime, you've got a career to develop. If you are currently employed, have a word with the HR department to discuss what types of skills and training are available at your company. If you are looking to start your career, or maybe make a career change, then perhaps it's time to investigate what's on offer outside the office.

There are plenty of businesses and organizations within the UK that can offer you courses to develop just about any aspect of your career. Most of these organizations are designed to fit their training around busy people just like you, offering evening or weekend classes if you can make the commitment, and many courses are reasonably priced.

Alternatively, pick out a course and see whether your company might part or fully fund your skills development. It pays to ask, because the least they might do is give you the time away from the office to attend and study. After all, it is in their interests as well as yours to have happy, intellectually fulfilled employees.

At the end of the day, more skills means more opportunities for you to reach your full potential and create a more positive future. You'll meet new people, learn new things and, ultimately, you?ll probably make more money. So go for it!

Regan & Dean recommends City Lit to its candidates and clients who wish to advance their skills and expertise through training. Click Here to find out more.

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