Author : Robin Bowman, Senior Business
Editor.
Robin has been a journalist for more than 20 years, during which
time he has held several senior media management positions in both
Fleet Street and Hong Kong. Robin recently returned to the UK after
being based in Italy for six years. He has a passion for business
innovation.
Small businesses everywhere should make sure they have their say
when invited.
So, it's important they take part in large numbers in the
government's latest consultation exercise - to find out what we all
think about the 'Right to request time to train' policy. 
It's vital the government gets the message on this issue because
leaving things as they are could have a big - and unwelcome -
impact on SMEs.
OK, some people have voiced doubt about whether government
consultation is really just a big PR exercise, but we surely have
to give the idea a go.
And which SME can say they don't like what the government has
been saying about its business policies? Less red tape, fewer
rules that achieve little, an end to burdening businesses with
extra bureaucratic costs. That's pretty much what the coalition has
promised.
The other big promise, of course, is that the government will
listen to people's views about what changes need to be made before
it announces cuts and introduces or alters legislation.
All the right noises so far.
The roll out of the 'Right to request time to train' policy
certainly needs an overhaul.
The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009
brought in the right for employees in large organisations (over 250
workers) to request time to train from April 2010. At the moment
this right will be extended to staff in small and medium-sized
business from April 2011.
Anyone who is tracking the new government's actions won't be
surprised to hear they are in a hurry to make decisions about this
legislation. Casting aside the normal 12-week period for
consultation, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
has announced it will allow comments only up to September
15th. This will allow all representations to be
made before the next meeting of the government's Reducing
Regulation Committee.
So, what is the Right exactly and why does it need
reviewing?
The law gives employees a statutory right to ask their employer
for time to take part in studies or training. Any type of training
is covered and it doesn't have to lead to a qualification.
The training, though, should help improve the performance of the
employee AND the business.
Businesses must answer the request within 28 days of receiving
it. If they don't approve the request they must arrange a meeting
to discuss it and give a written response within 14 days.
There are a number of reasons the request can be turned down.
Under the scheme all employees can put in training applications
after 26 weeks of employment. It's possible that every eligible
employee in a business could put in a request every year, but,
according to the government's research, around two thirds of
employees in larger companies so far in the scheme already have
access to training - therefore these workers are unlikely to make
statutory requests under the right. Whether the same level of
training is taking place within SMEs is uncertain.
The scheme doesn't take into account whether existing training
is happening within companies. So, even if it is taking place,
staff still currently have the right to make a request for more
training.
Then there's the cost. The government estimates the cost to SMEs
will be a cool £359m. These costs arise from the time taken
to deal with requests as well as lost productivity as a result of
time spent training.
Hardly welcome when SMEs everywhere are battling tough economic
times - often battling to stay afloat.
There's nothing wrong with training, of course. Its benefits
should be obvious to any employer, big or small and anything that
helps training must be welcome. But that training needs to be aimed
at a specific target and it needs to be cost effective.
Most importantly, the people in the best position to make these
kinds of decisions are SME bosses themselves, without the need for
legislation.
To have your say, get in touch with the Department
for Business, Innovation and Skills.
