ThirdForce delivers Skills for Life to Barchester

26 Jun 2009

by: Sarah Underwood

ThirdForce has been named preferred supplier of U-skills to Barchester Healthcare, a UK care home company with a workforce of 15,000.

The Barchester group cares for over 10,000 residents in 170 different locations across the UK. Training and development is a key component of the group’s ethos, with Skills for Life e-learning expected to enhance the provision of care and customer service.

Barchester’s decision to work with ThirdForce runs counter to research showing that many healthcare companies spend a considerable amount more on recruitment than on staff learning and development. Average staff turnover at healthcare companies is 44%, at Barchester it is less than 20%. The company suggests this indicates the benefits of an integral rather than isolated training and development programme.

Janet Garcia, ThirdForce sales director, said: “Barchester is a company that recognises the benefits of investing in its people and has always been among the first to explore new ways of engaging staff with learning.”

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