Senior trainer survey highlights demand for Web 2.0 business skills development

From: DTVUK Ltd
Published: Thu Mar 13 2008


The findings are from research conducted by Digital Training Videos – www.DTVuk.com, whose fast-growing online library of affordable, on-demand video films communicating key training needs is officially launched at April’s HRD 2008 event in London ExCel.

Specially designed to meet learning needs across the organisational hierarchy, from strategic senior CEO levels to foundation entry positions, DTV’s training and development contents are based on intensive in-depth research, consultation and advice from industry leaders, authors, lecturers & professors at major UK universities and business schools.

The survey was based on validated responses from a sample of 107 senior UK learning and development professionals attending last November’s World Of Learning Conference and Exhibition (WOLCE) in Birmingham.

It found 51% of the respondents were from companies employing more than 1,000 employees. Some 52% of these managed budgets of between £50,000 to £250,000 and 33% said they allocate up to 30% of their budget to digital learning solutions.

Business soft skills – ‘very important’

59% of respondents rated business soft skills as ‘very important’ with in-house training, video/ DVD purchases and e-learning the top three most common methods of training soft skills in the current business landscape.

Focusing on communications, teamwork and leadership advice (the business soft skills that respondents listed as most relevant to their companies), DTV delivers engaging, relevant, up-to-date business skills videos direct to desktops. Core benefits in DTV’s training are greater value, flexibility, choice, quality and trackability.

DTV’s bite-sized videos are between eight to ten minutes long and span personal and professional development, management, leadership, coaching, communications, customer service, sales, teamwork and sustainability.

Respondents shown the DTV offer said the factors that were the most compelling for them were the variety of topic content, the brevity and succinctness of the videos, clarity and simplicity of site design and its overall interactivity and usability.

Overall, 49% of respondents indicated that they were ‘quite’ or ‘highly’ interested in sourcing soft skills training for personnel from the DTV library if the pricing and content were right for them.

"Demand increasing"

"The survey shows that, in a fast-changing marketplace, demand for enhanced professional skills in leadership, communication and decision-making is increasing," says Head of DTV Sean Walsh.

"In DTV, we aim to provide the choice and flexibility to take learning into the home and workstation with high quality, relevant content that entertains and educates.

"Moreover, we aim to deliver interactivity, innovation and up-to-the-minute business skills learning in a format that is affordable as well as educational and entertaining.

"We believe that the payback for both individual and employer is shared intellectual health and wealth," he adds.

DTV is intended as an employee performance support system (EPSS) for large organisations and academic institutions to provide just-in-time (JIT), just-enough and ‘just-for-me’ learning for learners who are geographically dispersed.

Yet, thanks to its low cost and accessibility, it is equally appropriate for individual self-learners and workers in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Users can plan, monitor and analyse the learning progress of individuals or a team. Time spent on each topic can be recorded to determine the user’s learning route and chart future development goals.

"Each screening is an end-to-end learning experience with accompanying support materials including a summary buzz-bite video, learning pack, summary notes and a topic quiz to reinforce key learning points," says Sean Walsh.

"It should meet both learners’ and training managers’ needs – as revealed in the World of Learning survey."

The service launches at HRD (April 15th -18th 2008, London ExCel) on Stand 500 with an initial release of 20 newly produced films under the categories of communication, sales, customer service and teamwork. New content and titles are being uploaded every month.

Ends


Notes for Editors:


About DTV

DTV (Digital Training Videos) delivers engaging, relevant, up-to-date business skills videos direct to desktops. DTV provides hassle-free access to an extensive library of highly stimulating, affordable, on-demand video films communicating key training needs. Focusing on communications, teamwork and leadership advice, DTV empowers users with key knowledge for professional self-improvement.

DTV offers bite-sized videos (between eight to ten minutes long) and downloadable support material available on licence packages or pay-per-view pricings. Users can view and select from an easily navigable topic library, spanning personal and professional development, management, leadership, coaching, communications, customer service, sales, teamwork and sustainability.

DTV can also be deployed as an employee performance support system (EPSS) for large organisations and academic institutions to provide just-in-time (JIT), just-enough and ‘just-for-me’ learning for employees who are geographically dispersed.

DTV - delivering quality learning for today's business generation.


Further information:

Sales & Marketing: James Ralph / Kelvin Lee, DTV, +44 (0) 844 225 2005
Media: Peter Muir, Bob Little Press & PR, +44 (0) 1296 715228
Company: DTVUK Ltd
Contact Name: Bob Little
Contact Email: bob.little@dial.pipex.com
Contact Phone: 00 44 (0) 1727 860405

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