Design professionals continue to invest in training and development, despite being severely hit by the recession, and in many cases are increasing training budgets and supplementing training to prepare for the economic recovery, according to a recent survey.

Nearly 58 percent of firms who responded to the survey have increased their training budgets in 2010, according to a survey by Wayland-based architecture and engineering consultant ZweigWhite.

Furthermore, 43 percent of respondents said they are taking advantage of the economic slowdown to train staff and prepare for the bounce back.

"We are using the time we have to train, cross train in Microstation and Autocad, standardize, mentor skills in things from drafting to leadership," said Pamela Bain, president Bain Medina Bain Inc., a consulting engineering and surveying firm in San Antonio. "We are also ‘finally’ utilizing every module of our financial system, and training all the staff on the use and beauty of the program."

As part of the survey, participants were also asked to describe how their training delivery methods changed as a result of the economy, as well as about their training and development priorities.

Almost 54 percent of respondents said they are using more technology, such as webcasts, to conduct training. Thirty-two percent reported they are conducting training the way they have always done. Just 14 percent said they’re now doing training and development mostly in-house.

The top three priorities are: project management training (38 percent), training on technologies such as Building Information Modeling (29 percent); and leadership and business management for future leaders (18 percent).