The majority of organisations (95%) fund staff training. The most common forms of training include:

• job specific training
• health and safety/first aid
• induction training

There is a connection between the size and income of the organisation and training spending. Less that one in two organisations with a low income (less than £100k) undertake management training. Large national organisations spend an estimated 2% of salary costs on training and development.

There is no established career path for those wising to work into the voluntary sector. People wishing to enter employment in the sector often have to be creative about finding opportunities that suit them. Prospects, the graduates career website recommends the following methods:

• volunteering
• applying for advertised posts and making speculative applications
• graduate training schemes (only a few exist, e.g. in Cancer Research UK or Bernardo’s)
• gaining relevant experience elsewhere
• career progression (enormous opportunities due to diverse sector)

29% of paid workers are educated to degree level.

Source: Prospects website 2004 and VSNTO 2003b

Further information

Click here for information on a number of training providers.

Click here for informal list of training courses in fundraising, managing volunteers, and trustee and governance.

Click here for information of accredited training (leading to a recognised qualification or award).