As National Learning at Work Day kicks off today (Thursday), the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is urging managers across the country to take control of their business through training.

According to the National Employer Skills Survey 2007, almost 163,000 managers in England alone experience a skills gap. Of these, almost three quarters lack management skills. However, the government’s Train to Gain skills service reported that 43% of people who completed their training received a pay rise, whilst 30% were promoted.

The survey also revealed that 73% of employers whose managers have a skills gap cited poor managerial skills as the main issue, while only one in five cases claimed that managers’ skills gaps lead to no particular problems.

Skills Minister David Lammy said: “To really succeed in an increasingly competitive climate, every business manager needs to get the best from their employees. Despite the time pressures they face, no manager can afford to cut corners on training – either for their employees, or themselves.”