Midland bosses are continuing to invest in training despite the recession and downturn in profits.

According to the West Midlands branch of the Institute of Directors, eight out of ten employers canvassed in a new survey say their organisations have maintained or increased training spend in the past six months

The majority think it is a positive way to boost staff morale and even increase productivity as businesses innovate to fight the recession

They are looking to reduce other expenditure such as hospitality spend, staff bonuses, entertainment and events.  

The IoD survey of nearly 1,000 business leaders reveals that training has been maintained or even increased in eight out of ten organisations over the six months to May 2009.

Nearly nine out of ten companies plan to maintain investment in training over the next six months.

IoD members identified improved staff morale, better productivity, improved customer satisfaction and longer staff retention as the main benefits of investment in training.

Employers say that they are focusing most on 'essential' training. These are likely to be short courses designed to meet immediate business needs, rather than strategic aims such as degrees and professional qualifications.

The recession has also spurred organisations to deliver training in new and innovative ways.

Many employers are taking training in-house, using experienced staff to train others, looking to share training expertise with other companies and turning to online training courses.

Richard Boot, the IoD chairman in the West Midlands said: "These results show the fundamental importance of skills training.

"IoD members think that maintaining training now will help position their organisations well for the upturn. The mood is firmly one of innovation and determination, not defeatism."

"The survey also sends an illuminating signal about the wider skills system, whose labyrinthine complexity is a nightmare for employers.

"Train to Gain includes some well targeted initiatives, notably the leadership and management support.

Seventy per cent of those who use the service are satisfied with its quality, but it remains a minority pursuit for most IoD members - many of whom are put off by excessive bureaucracy and a lack of flexibility.

"These issues must be addressed: they are a brake on greater employer engagement."