FTSE 350 companies toast 'Cafe Culture' learning

They include:

*Barclays Bank
*BT
*Channel 4
*FirstGroup
*Ginsters
*Google
*McDonald’s Restaurants
*Microsoft

The central aim of 'Cafe Culture' is to promote good practice among employers, so BIS and Business in the Community have today published 'Building the Cafe Culture Movement' to help other organisations to see the benefits of informal adult learning at work. 

The resource includes case studies showing how successful companies have seen the business benefits of informal learning, alongside guidance on how to follow in their footsteps.

John Hayes said:

“Businesses have a pivotal role in promoting adult learning, and so have a unique opportunity to change, and indeed improve, people’s lives. In turn they can reap the harvest of a productive and engaged workforce.

"The many household names that have pledged to push informal workplace learning through the Café Culture campaign is testament to the value they place on developing new skills.

"I am delighted to see such positive results and look forward to seeing adult learning continue to grow at work."

The 'Cafe Culture' campaign, which has been running since 2009, has involved a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, finance, construction, utilities and food and drink companies.

It took its inspiration from the idea of a wider cafe culture, where people meet informally to share ideas in a fun and relaxed environment. By translating this to an office environment, the intention has been to encourage people to work together as teams to support creativity and improve skills.

Notes to Editors:

1.   'Building the Café Culture Movement' can be downloaded from the Business in the Community website at: http://www.bitc.org.uk/workplace/skills/index.html

2.   The learning culture developed by Google, the international technology company, has contributed to its recognition in 2008 as the UK’s best place to work and one of the lowest turnover rates in the IT industry (5%).

3.   Merseytravel has enabled staff to take part in training to support the development of both personal and professional skills, with interest free loans to fund personal learning.  Merseytravel has seen a significant reduction in staff turnover and a 10% reduction in disciplinary and grievance cases.

4.   Business in the Community has worked since 1982 to inspire, engage, support and challenge companies to commit to a sustainable future for people and planet.

Business Action on Skills is a Workplace campaign that aims to ensure that businesses harness the talent and skills of all to create a globally competitive workforce in the UK, now and in the future.

5. The full list of companies pledging support is:

Accenture                                   Lafarge Cement
Adnams                                      Lincolnshire Cooperative
Affinity Sutton Group                   Magnox North
Allied Healthcare Group                Marshalls
ASDA Stores                               McDonald’s Restaurants           
AVIVA                                        Merseytravel
BAA                                           Microsoft
Barclays Bank                             MITIE Group
BT                                             National Grid          
Business in the Community         National House-Building Council
C4 (Channel 4)                           NEC Group
Carillion                                     Northern Foods
Clugston Group                           Paver Smith
CMI                                           Polestar Group
Compass Group                          Reed in Partnership
Croda International plc                Remploy
Crossrail                                    Rentokil Initial
DHL Aviation                              Royal Mail
E.ON UK                                    RWE npower
FirstGroup                                 Salescake
Ford Motor Company                  Scottish & Southern Energy
Gentoo Group                            Sodexo
GeoPost UK                               Southern Railway
Ginsters                                    TD Waterhouse
Global Promise                          UK Coal
Google                                      United Biscuits
Green Park Interim                    Veolia Environment Group
 & Executive Resourcing             VT Group
Incommunities                           Vue Entertainment
J Barbour and Sons                    Whitbread Group
JD Wetherspoon                        Wincanton
JGP
KCOM Group
KPMG