BOSSES are looking to get more out of staff training during the recession, a survey showed today.

But the CBI said many employers felt the Government’s flagship Train to Gain programme could be making more of an impact on their business.

The survey showed that 51% of employers said they want to target their training more effectively to get maximum return on their spend.

CBI director-general Richard Lambert said: “During turbulent times, it would be understandable if firms have to reduce their training budgets.

“But this survey shows that they are most concerned with getting more value from their training, to ensure they are better placed for an upturn when it comes.”

Andrew Fitzmaurice, chief executive of Nord Anglia Education, which helped conduct the survey, said: “Since the last CBI survey on education and skills was published a year ago, the world economy has seen a severe economic downturn.

“Employers are keen not just to survive the recession, but to emerge from it in the best possible shape. To do so, training and development remains vital.”

The survey showed that 42% of employers using Train to Gain said it had “no impact” for their business. Three-quarters rated its training brokerage service as “poor” or “mixed”.

Employers support the principles behind Train to Gain – which provides employers with skills advice and access to funding for their staff on nationally accredited training courses.

But the CBI said: “It clearly has not been delivering what many businesses need to help them stay competitive.”

In January, the Government rolled out “significant” improvements for small and medium-sized firms. The CBI said it wanted to see those improvements extended to all companies.

Changes included giving SMEs funding for re-training staff at NVQ Level 2 – equivalent to five or more GCSEs.

There was additional support to train staff to Level 3, which is equivalent to A-levels and helps give firms a greater competitive edge.

Recent government figures on the performance of Train to Gain show the biggest increases in employer demand was for Level 3 training.

The survey shows that firms remain committed to apprenticeships as an important route for training skilled staff during the recession.

Some 51% said they were involved in the scheme and 38% of employers hope to increase their numbers of apprentices.

However, 17% of smaller firms said they had ceased their involvement in the scheme due to the economic climate.