The Ready to Grow report, issued last year by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), highlighted that almost two thirds (63%) of firms see investment in skills as very important for achieving their strategic objectives. The same number, however, say that they will be targeting their training more effectively as resources remain tight during the early stages of economic recovery.

Why then, at a time when people development is widely seen as more critical than ever to the success of British industry, do business leaders often overlook an area of innovation that has been proven to yield excellent results when effectively harnessed? The view was expressed in response to "Towards Maturity" research findings from the organisation's 2010-11 Benchmark Survey. Conservative estimates show that compared with traditional or "classroom" training, a mature use of innovative and technology-enabled learning delivers an eighteen percent cost savings, a 22 percent reduction in study time, and twice the volume of learning delivered.

Results achieved also improve dramatically with greater maturity of use. This consensus viewpoint emerged at the inaugural meeting of the Towards Maturity Ambassadors Group, which comprises many of the leading provider companies in the technology-supported and innovative learning industry.

Attendees at the meeting included some of the most prominent entrepreneurs and CEOs in the industry, including Piers Lea of LINE Communications, winner of the ELearning Award for Lifetime Achievement, Jonathan Satchell CEO of Epic, and Martin Baker MD Charity Learning consortium.

The group called for specific industry-wide action to spread awareness among business leaders of the hidden potential that lurks within its L&D armoury.

Martin Baker, MD of the Charity Learning Consortium comments, "Of course, in the not-for-profit sector, value for money is just as critical. Leaders in the sector are under just as much pressure to ensure that their staff deliver high levels of services, and this means delivering the right skills at the right time in an affordable way. In practical terms, many charities, particularly in healthcare, have staff who are on the move - they may not even have a desk. This evidence highlights that eLearning really is a practical and effective solution, but leaders in the sector have to support the change for technology to deliver."

Towards Maturity's Ambassador program has been a resounding success since its launch at the end of 2010, showing a widespread willingness among the provider community to give practical support for the not-for-profit benchmarking practice's work in highlighting the role of learning innovation in the workplace. Two new award-winning Ambassadors were also welcomed at the meeting: Information Transfer, based in Cambridge, and Digital Publishing from Germany.

Armin Hopp, founder and president of Digital Publishing said "Business and learning leaders across Europe need to be able to benchmark to help drive innovation and change. We are thrilled to be part of the Towards Maturity Ambassador Group to support this important independent research."