New data shows sustained growth in the numbers of businesses and employees actively using online and mobile-based training to boost wider Learning and Development strategies and improve staff retention.

The number of users accessing accredited video-based eLearning courses via the employee benefits app Engage rose by 10% from April to May, based on analysis by the mobile platform’s provider HIVE360.

The workplace training and employee development programs available on the Engage app cover Health & Safety, HR and Business compliance, management development, and a range of soft skills.

“The skills shortage is at an all-time high, and recruitment remains a top challenge for the majority of businesses, pushing employee retention to the top of the agenda,” says HIVE360 CEO, David McCormack.

“People are positive about businesses with a healthy culture that includes clear opportunities for professional development, L&D, training, and reskilling, and is a desirable benefit that is encouraging employee loyalty. Retaining staff is also significantly cheaper than recruiting new or replacement employees, with the average cost currently estimated as around half of the job role’s annual salary.

“Helping and encouraging staff training also has a huge impact on improving employee productivity, wellbeing, and job satisfaction, as well as on levels of employee engagement. At a time when retention is shaping up to be the new recruitment strategy, it certainly seems that growing numbers of businesses are providing training for employees to address this, along with implementing strategies to support identifying and plugging workers’ skills gaps, in order to support a stable, happy workforce, and business continuity.”

HIVE360 provides its Engage Employee Benefits app as standard to businesses that outsource payroll and statutory employment responsibilities to the company. The customisable digital mobile employee benefits and rewards app is available in 120 languages, has an average 100,000 user sessions each month, and includes My Training, My Health, My Money, My Discounts, and My Work features.

The app’s user data for May also shows an increase in the number of users accessing the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) suite, which includes tools and resources to support employees achieve and maintain positive physical and mental health at work.

Also topping the number of user sessions were discounts on gym memberships and exercise classes, and financial discounts on day-to-day shopping and living expenses for major retailers such as Asda, Sainsbury, Tesco, and Morrisons.

HIVE360’s expert, compliant and reliable PAYE payroll support and comprehensive employment support solutions for businesses, recruiters and recruitment agencies, their workforce and candidates, ensure full HMRC, RTI, GLAA and IR35 compliance. It provides its employee benefits and wellbeing package via its unique Engage Employee Benefits app as standard and at no extra charge to businesses that outsource to the company.

More information: https://www.hive360.com/payroll-pension-perks/