Employee training: how to build an effective programme

Whether you’re looking to upskill your existing employees, solve a challenge or onboard new employees effectively, training programmes can give your business the boost it needs.

Employee training in a nutshell

• Employee training is a catch-all term for different types of education and activities that help equip employees with relevant skills, knowledge and behaviours.
• It can include in-person and online courses, self-directed learning and other types of training.
• Training can be a mandatory requirement of someone’s role, but it can also be a chance to refresh knowledge and skills.
• In most cases, training doesn’t just benefit the employee; it benefits the organisation too, with increased productivity and performance helping to drive essential growth.

What Is Employee Training?

Employee training, unlike other forms of employee development, typically targets a specific role, skill, equipment or software, or business need. Training can involve:

Upskilling

Where someone learns to perform their role more effectively.

Reskilling

Where someone prepares to move into a different role.

Cross-skilling

Where someone develops their skills beyond their main specialism.

Training can also take many forms. It can be formal/informal, mandatory/voluntary, individual/organisation-wide, and can also be both short- and long-term.

It can also include broader initiatives, such as cyber security awareness training or basic AI literacy, where it is imperative for several teams or even a whole company to learn something new at pace. 

Why Employee Training Matters

Employee training in the UK has been falling, with employers investing 36% less per employee since 2005. Budget cuts have become the norm for businesses needing to make cuts somewhere, and it seems as though training and development is one of the areas where some budget can be skimmed off the top.

There is also a known ‘skills crisis’, where employers are consistently encountering staff who are unable to help businesses meet their strategic objectives through lack of skills and knowledge.

But there are several reasons for employers to invest in employee training, including:

Improved productivity

Training can help employees work faster and more efficiently. It can also reduce mistakes and improve how people use tools and systems. With training, teams should be able to produce better work in less time.

Freeing up management time

Well-trained employees can work more independently, solving problems and making decisions without hand-holding. This frees up manager time to focus on planning, leadership, and business priorities. 

More confident workers

When employees have the right knowledge and skills, they feel more confident. They’ll be more willing to make suggestions and take on challenges, feeling more in tune with the business’ priorities.   

Businesses that fail to invest in employee training also risk falling behind, especially when it comes to advancements in tech, like AI. Training should not only provide new skills and basic AI literacy, but also support employees in using AI confidently and understanding how it can benefit their roles. 

Types of Employee Training

There are several types of employee training, including:

• Instructor-led training courses

• Virtual classroom training

• Self-directed learning

• On-the-job training

• Coaching and mentoring

• Workshops 

• Professional qualifications and certifications

• Induction and onboarding programmes

• Leadership and management training

• Compliance training

Employers can offer in-house programmes or seek external training courses to meet the needs of employees, with many organisations choosing to use both. 

How to set up an employee training programme

Setting up a new employee training programme can help provide the structure and space needed to allow your employees to undertake vital learning. But it’s important it’s done with a clear plan in place to ensure the programme delivers real value and works towards your company’s overall aims: 

1. Set out your goals

A successful training programme needs a clear purpose. What are your business’ needs? Use the answer to help decide on the programme required to drive your business forward.

2. Carry out a skills assessment

Your organisation will already benefit from a variety of skills, you just need to find out what they are. Use surveys, interviews and even performance reviews to help identify your employees’ existing skills, so that you can find out where the gaps are.

3. Prioritise the gaps

Your organisation could find itself faced with several training needs, but it’s important to prioritise the most important ones. Rank each need according to urgency and business impact, focusing first on any gaps that affect performance, security and strategy. 

4. Choose the right training

Different learning needs will require different types of training. From online learning to instructor-led courses, you should decide which format is the most appropriate. If you need help creating a suitable in-house programme or want to benefit from pre-existing courses, this is where QA can step in to help build suitable learning paths. 

5. Create a schedule

Set aside time for employees to learn alongside their roles. Learning should be staggered to help avoid information overload. 

6. Put learning into practice

Give employees opportunities to use their new skills. Tasks or projects that require them to use their training will help give individuals the chance to grow confident in their new skills and knowledge, strengthening their roles in the process.

7. Measure results

Monitor elements like attendance and completion rates to help measure the effectiveness of your programme. You could also set benchmarks at the beginning and monitor improvements as a result of your learning programme, demonstrating its value and ROI. Review the programme regularly to help improve it as needed.

Common challenges and how to overcome them

Even the most carefully designed programmes can face challenges. Some of the most common include:

Limited time

Busy employees rarely find the time for training. Training needs to be scheduled during working hours and planned around busy periods to give employees the time and space to complete training.

Limited budget

Budget is another key challenge for many businesses and organisations. Any learning budget should target the most critical skills gaps, and use blended learning methods to help manage costs more effectively.

Low uptake

If training feels irrelevant, employees could disengage from it. Make it clear how training helps their work and career, and tailor training programmes to individuals to help them take a more vested interest in their development.

Lack of workplace application

If new knowledge and skills aren’t put to use, it can fade. Ensure there are clear pathways for using the training through tasks and projects, with management support to help build confidence and capability. 

Setting up an employee training programme can help your business close skills gaps, improve performance and prepare for the future. With clear goals and a plan in place to help employees use their training, you can expect big returns on your learning investment.

From AI and data training to cybersecurity, project management and leadership, QA offers training for a wide range of roles and experience levels. 

Looking to start an employee training programme? Get in touch with our team today.