Jenny Thow, Learning & Development Manager at Sika UK, explains how people play an extremely important role in ensuring long term success for a business.

In an ever-increasingly automated and technological world, it can be too easy to overlook the importance of people and the vital roles they play in securing a business’ future success. Innovation starts with a person having a good idea. Technology – including state-of-the-art software and machinery – is then used to turn this idea into reality. Without the initial human inspiration, this technology, however efficient and intuitive, is entirely redundant. This is one of the core reasons that Sika UK continues to invest in the development of its people.

At Sika UK, we are living our commitment to people development. We understand that people who are competent, capable and confident are generally happier in their roles, and therefore more productive. This is why we place so much emphasis on supporting all of our employees with learning and training.

From a range of structured activities, such as apprenticeships, industrial placements and internships, to providing sales training to all sales recruits within the first six months of employment, to non-role based training, such as our well-being course, exploring resilience, stress and the pressures of working in a changing environment, we have courses and activities that fit a wide variety of 21st century needs of any employee.

This approach is paying dividends. Our staff are able to put new skills and knowledge into their everyday behaviours, enabling them to push themselves further and increase their capabilities. We’re also reaping the rewards – our people are growing and so is the business. We believe that the ongoing development of our people will ensure we are best placed to deliver the ongoing development of our products and business as a whole.