Website of the UK government

What is ‘Time to Train’?

The government is asking for your views on its plans to make it a legal right to ask your employer to take time away from your core duties for training.

The proposed right, known as ‘Time to Train’, would apply to all employees who have worked for their employer for more than 26 weeks –up to 22 million workers in England.

Under the plans, around 300,000 extra people a year could receive skills training.

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Why does the government think that change is needed?

Despite real progress over the last decade, the government says, latest figures show that:

• too many adults still struggle with low or out-of-date skills
• one third of employers do not train their staff 
• eight million employees receive no kind of training at all every year

John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, said:

"Investment in skills is key to ensuring we come through with a stronger economy and making sure individuals can make the most of their abilities”.

Ministers believe a legal right to request time to train will help ensure that training is taken seriously by all employers.

Take part in the consultation

Time to Train has the potential to affect a lot of people.

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) is keen to hear the views of everyone with an interest in how time to train is taken forward - employers, individuals and representative bodies.

The ‘Time to Train’ consultation will run until 10 September 2008. Legislation  could be in place by 2010, subject to its passage through Parliament.

To view the consultation document and the response form, follow the link below.

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