The majority of UK companies are shunning e-learning, according to a study by market research group Vanson Bourne. Its survey of UK IT managers found that just over one-third (35%) of companies currently use web-based technologies to train their staff.

The highest penetration of e-learning technology, unsurprisingly, is in large organisations where 47% report some form of online learning facilities. In smaller organisations, that figure drops to just 22%.

The chief barrier to adopting online learning, according to Vanson Bourne's survey, is a perception that employees prefer classroom-based training. About a quarter (26%) of respondents believe their staff favour the 'chalk and talk' method of learning over sitting at a computer screen. However, few can offer any concrete evidence to support this argument.

Budgetary concerns also feature heavily, with 15% of those surveyed citing a lack of budget as the main reason for not investing in e-learning technologies. Few doubt the potential of e-learning to deliver a return on investment, however – only 6% express concerns over a perceived lack of ROI.

According to Eugene Deedy, UK managing director at e-learning software provider Thinq, which commissioned the survey, one of the common misconceptions about e-learning is that it is a distinct, standalone alternative to existing training methods. Organisations that combine e-learning with face-to-face training can meet their training requirements more efficiently and cost-effectively, he adds.