Small businesses should invest in training for managers and other key staff if they want to increase skills and keep staff motivated.

That's the message that comes through from a survey conducted by the Learning and Skills Council's Train to Gain service. Sparked by the fact that this year is a leap year and there is an extra working day, the LSC asked managers and supervisors what they would do with a bonus day.

The research found that 52% of managers would use a bonus day to send staff on training courses, with 61% of managers currently citing a lack of time as the biggest obstacle to staff training and 49% admitting they are put off by the cost.

Managers are also keen to further their own development, with 65% wanting to use a bonus day to improve their own leadership and management skills.

Separate research from the Chartered Management Institute shows that training helped 24% of managers gain a promotion; 23% of managers boost their salary and 23% change their career direction.

"These figures show that there is a clear desire and need for supervisors across the board to improve their own skills and those of their workforce," said Glenn Robinson, director of Train to Gain.

"Given that we have an extra working day this year and there are now additional leadership and management funding opportunities, employers must get involved and help shape a better future for their business and their employees."

The government has recently announced an extension of the Train to Gain service designed to help small business leaders develop their own skills. The funding will allow 60,000 managers to access leadership and management training over the next three years.

Businesses wanting to take advantage of the new funding will receive a visit from a Train to Gain representative who will carry out a skills diagnostic for the individual, develop a personal action plan and help find appropriate training courses.