Time to Train regulations are not to be extended this April to employees of SMEs, the government has announced.

The right for employees to request time for training to aid skills development has been available to employees of large organisations with 250 or more employees since April last year.

The government says that following a recent consultation with a range of businesses and employee groups, ministers are taking further time to examine the potential impact of the regulation on smaller firms.

Further education, skills and lifelong learning minister, John Hayes, says: “It is vital to the economy and individuals that everyone has access to the training they need. That is why we are investing in apprenticeships, protecting adult and community learning, and freeing colleges to respond to local needs.

“But it is vital that the right balance is struck between support for training and the need to minimise the burden of regulation for smaller companies.

“We have delayed implementation to allow further, thorough discussion, scrutiny and evaluation.”