How Businesses Train & Develop Employees
- Businesses need to make sure that new and existing staff are trained and developed appropriately
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- Training is the teaching of new skills
- Development is the improvement of existing skills
- A well-trained workforce is important for several reasons
- Well-trained staff are likely to be more productive
- Staff may feel valued if a business invests in training and development
- Staff are more likely to be flexible and resilient in the face of change
Formal & Informal Training
- Businesses have a range of formal and informal training options for employees
- The type of training employees undertake will depend upon the finance and timescale available as well as the specific needs of the business and employee
Formal and Informal Training
Type of Training |
Explanation |
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
Formal |
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Informal |
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Self Learning
- Improvements in technology and the increasing availability of vocational courses has made self learning an attractive option for businesses
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- It involves workers studying or practising skills without the presence of a teacher of trainer
- It can take place outside of normal working hours and if online it can be undertaken anywhere
- Workers can learn at their own pace
- Feedback is unlikely to be immediate and trainees cannot easily ask questions
Induction Training
- Induction training is usually delivered as soon as possible after new workers join a business and can involve several elements
Common elements of induction training
Ongoing Training
- Ongoing training is provided to workers throughout their career and is a key way to continuously improve productivity as they understand how to fulfil their job roles effectively
- It ensures that workers stay up to date with working practises
- It allows skills to be improved
- It reminds employees of business priorities
Target Setting & Performance Reviews
- Training and development is usually linked to targets for employees to aim for and is a key part of the performance management process
- Targets may be negotiated between an employee and their supervisor who ensures that training targets support business objectives
- Progress towards targets and further training needs are discussed during performance review meetings which are usually held annually
- The successfully completion of training can support a worker's application for promotion or increased pay