Electronics firms turn to training to beat recession

Firms in the Scottish electronics industry are increasingly turning to training in a bid to come out of the recession stronger than before, new research suggests.

Glasgow-based Indicia Training, one of the UK’s leading business skills and IT training firms, has reported a 55% year on year increase in the number of training courses being booked, many of which are from companies in the Scottish electronics sector.  

And research from the National Microelectronics Institute (NMI) shows that, despite the economic downturn, over 95% of firms in the industry have refused to make cuts in their training budgets – the majority of which spend over £1,000 per person per year.

John Moor from the NMI said: “This is an advancing industry and a competitive advantage for companies is their intellectual capital.  Their people are really important so they are not going to stop investing because if they do, they will fall behind.”

Indicia Training’s general manager Howard Teale says that research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) which shows companies that invest in training are two and a half times more likely to survive the recession, has spurred a lot of firms into taking action.

He said: “Like many industries, firms in the electronics sector have been hit by the economic downturn. But despite that, many of these firms have been refusing to batten down the hatches, realising that in order to continue competing, they needed to take action.

“Our research shows that electronics firms are continuing to invest in their staff to not only improve quality of service and sales, but boost morale and increase results giving credibility over competitors.”

Indicia, which now employs six office based staff and a core of 15 freelance trainers, has seen turnover rise by 36% over the past two years to £550,000 this year. They are the only training company in Scotland to be awarded the Novell Gold Partner status – a much sought after industry accreditation - and can now count the likes of the Scottish Government, the NHS and Mars among its impressive client list.

And the company’s courses are proving so popular that overseas firms have even flown in delegates from as far away as Russia and the Middle East.

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