Employers have been advised that the main benefit of training for any business is having "higher calibre employees".

Will Cookson, head of skills at Working Links, suggested that continuing to train staff is "crucial", as realistically it has a significant impact on the bottom line.

"No matter what’s happening with the economy, you still need to invest in your staff in order to ensure that those individuals can go on and progress within the company," he explained.

Failing to provide ongoing training and development, employees’ skills will soon "become obsolete" as they haven’t been given the opportunity to evolve.

Recent figures from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills show that the government’s £26.5 million investment in skills and training is benefiting workers across London get and keep jobs in the current economic downturn.

According to the latest statistics, on a national scale, adults achieved 187,300 qualifications through Train to Gain in 2007/08 – more than double the number reported for 2006/07.