We all know that continuing professional development is vital for any business or organisation to progress, but the conundrum of whether to send team members on external courses still raises problems for many employers. In the current financial climate, the temptation to deliver learning and development ‘in house’ or through free courses can be high, but does this kind of training provide as much value as investing in a course delivered by accredited professionals?
Finding the right external training course can be the gift that keeps on giving. Aside from the fact that your team will learn new skills in a well-structured and knowledgeable environment, a good course will provide elements that can be brought back and disseminated in house, hopefully changing the mindset of team members who come into contact with the learning.
Choosing your external provider
It would be safe to argue that it’s easier to choose a school for your children than choosing a training provider for your staff. There aren’t any Ofsted reports for training providers and you can’t research their results in league tables. So, what can you do to ensure that you’re investing money in the right course?
Is it relevant?
Firstly, think about whether the training is relevant to the needs of your business. While it’s great to plan for the future, training works best if the acquired knowledge and skills can be implemented immediately. You also need to consider whether the trainee will be offered ongoing support and coaching after their training session, after all, a course is only as good as the understanding of its participants.
What’s their track record?
You need a provider who understands your industry and the culture of your business. Check over the trainers’ CVs and profile to see what their history and experience is. Also, if you can, see if you can speak to any past delegates on their courses and find out if they would recommend them.
How is the training delivered?
There’s no point sending a member of staff on a training course if all that happens is they come back with a workbook that collects dust.
Training comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, from classroom based to online learning, and it is important to consider whether the delivery and content of the course is right for your business. This includes whether the content is customisable (something that may not be so applicable for online learning) and whether the training provider follows up on implementing learning in the workplace.
Once you’ve done your research, take the leap. Filling knowledge gaps and improving the skill sets of your employees is the key to maintaining a thriving business and a quality external course will always be a good investment for the future.
If you need some help in how to select a great training provider, give us a call, we are always happy to point you in the right direction.
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