Employers would be under no obligation to grant requests, as long as they could justify refusal on business grounds, but they would be expected to have a meaningful conversation with an employee who wanted training. The training itself could be at any level and might be paid for by the employer, the employee or funded by the government or any combination of the three. Funds would be available to businesses through the Train to Gain scheme and employees would not necessarily be paid for the time they are allowed to take off.

Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary John Denham said investment in skills was key to ensuring the economy becomes stronger.

"But we have still not persuaded every employer of the importance of skills. "A third of employers still don't train their staff." Those that did not train were running "real risks with their businesses", he added.

A consultation on the idea will now run until September, and ministers hope to have it enshrined in law within the next two years.

The Confederation of British Industry director general John Cridland said employers would be pleased the government had ruled out compelling to train staff irrespective of their circumstances and opted to reduce the right to request instead. "The most effective spur for training is the mutual benefit derived by both employer and employee, not regulation. "Employers clearly value the importance of skilled staff and already spend £38.6bn a year on staff development," he added.

General secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers Dr Mary Bousted said: "Giving employees the right to ask for time to train is a step in the right direction, particularly as it would be based on the model for requests for flexible working which seems to work well.  "However, we want to see the details of how it would work in practice and be assured workers would be paid while they are being trained."