Although reducing training and staff development is a common response to the impacts of the recession and austerity measures, the 24 November issue of the ICE’s magazine, New Civil Engineer, reports that “far sighted organisations have continued and in some cases increased their commitment to ongoing formal staff training and development so they can reap future benefits.  The more enlightened organisations appreciate that it is not a case of can’t afford to train, but can’t afford not to train.”  

Evidence collected by TPS suggests that many employers of transport planners do, indeed, recognise the importance of continuing to invest in staff training and development, but have refocused the available funds on in-house activities, cutting back on more expensive third party training, often by getting one member of staff up to speed on new developments and legislation and then disseminating that knowledge in-house.