| A lack of leadership skill training is widely accepted as | | | | employment. |
| a core weakness in general British management, and | | | | The CBI believes that the training and experience |
| an area that needs to be urgently addressed. | | | | gained by Reservists could help UK businesses to |
| This claim is supported by research conducted by the | | | | tackle the critical weaknesses in management and |
| Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, | | | | leadership. "With the Armed Forces' long held |
| which concluded that as many as "two thirds of UK | | | | reputation for high quality leadership, the CBI believes |
| organisations are suffering from a shortage of highly | | | | that those men and women serving as Reservists |
| effective leaders". The Confederation of British | | | | could develop the skills through their training to fill these |
| Industry (CBI) shares this viewpoint, stating that "Good | | | | roles and become our business leaders and managers |
| leaders, supervisors and managers are essential if UK | | | | of the future." |
| business performance is to improve." | | | | Forward-thinking companies recognise benefits of |
| Furthermore, in October 2005, a team of leading | | | | employing Reservists |
| business academics identified poor leadership training | | | | UK business leaders need to look for alternative and |
| as one of the top five key weaknesses in business | | | | more innovative approaches towards training in order |
| management. The report found a strong correlation | | | | to develop management and leadership skills |
| between these deficiencies and the capabilities | | | | throughout their organisations. Forward-thinking |
| developed by Reservists, whose broad training | | | | companies are already benefiting from employing |
| encompasses transferable skills such as leadership, | | | | Reservists and utilising their unique leadership skill |
| self-confidence and initiative. | | | | training to enhance their organisation's capability. |
| All Reservists receive training in leadership skills | | | | To raise awareness of the advantages of employing |
| As an integral part of Reserve training, Reservists are | | | | members of the Reserve Forces, SaBRE is running a |
| required to lead teams both on exercise and during | | | | campaign whereby employers can publicly give their |
| general training. Feedback is given on their capabilities | | | | backing. Companies wishing to pledge their support for |
| from which they are able to develop their leadership | | | | current or future Reservists in their employment are |
| skills further. This is of particular value to their civilian | | | | invited to sign the Statement of Employer Support. |