There could be a leadership vacuum because many organisations are failing to develop the next generation of senior executives.

Responses to a study by the Chartered Management Institute reveals employers run the risk of losing their future leaders because they are not providing adequate training (46%) as a result of the recession. When asked what could be done to rectify the situation 82% of respondents said employers should focus on skills development to get them out of a recession. One third (34%) felt poor management skills would have a negative
impact on future performance and 52% suggested that loss of skills would also affect revenues.

The figures also show that more than one third of managers believe their organisation's management development will decrease over the next six months.

Petra Wilton, director of policy and research at the Chartered Management Institute says, "Where possible organisations should look at other areas of the business before cutting back on training as skills development is essential if they are to be well placed when the economy eventually picks up.  However, we realise that many organisations have
exhausted all other alternatives and the onus is now on the Government to step up to the mark and deliver support."

The data has been issued in the run-up to Learning at Word Day (14 May 2009), a national campaign organised by the Campaign for Learning.