A growing number of UK businesses are using coaching as a means of training staff and promoting development.

More than two-fifths of firms now offer in-house mentoring to all their workers, with 71% of companies coaching a selection of employees, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

The majority of coaching falls to line managers (30%) and HR and training specialists (30%).

More than half of businesses (53%) believe coaching conducted by line managers to be the most effective form of in-house training.

Dr John McGurk, learning, training and development adviser at the CIPD, said: “Coaching is not just a popular technique but an immensely powerful one for supporting personal development.

"There is no doubt that coaching is having a significant impact both on individual and organisational performance.

“It is a win–win solution to workforce development, offering the scope to help employees reach their potential, while improving the competitiveness and productivity of the business as a whole.”