Time to Train: regulations delay

Feb 2011

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced the Time to Train initiative will not be extended this April to employees of small and medium-sized businesses.

The right for employees to request time for training to improve their skills has been available to employees of large organisations with 250 or more employees since April 2010.

Following a recent consultation covering a wide range of businesses and employee groups, Ministers are taking further time to examine the potential impact of the regulation on smaller firms.

Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning Minister, John Hayes said:

"It is vital to the economy and individuals that everyone has access to the training they need. That is why we are investing in apprenticeships, protecting adult and community learning, and freeing colleges to respond to local needs.

"But it is vital that the right balance is struck between support for training and the need to minimise the burden of regulation for smaller companies.

"We have delayed implementation to allow further, thorough discussion, scrutiny and evaluation."

Time to Train operates on a similar basis to the right to request flexible working. Employees are entitled to request time to undertake work relevant training, which employers must formally consider. Employers are entitled to refuse the request if one of a number acceptable business reasons applies.

BIS' online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.