In-House or Public Training Courses – which is best?
Investing in employee training and development is essential for businesses to remain competitive in today's fast-paced digital landscape. While there are various training options available, in-house training has become a popular choice for many organisations.
09-05-2024
While there are various training options available, in-house training has become a popular choice for many organisations. This is not to dismiss the value of public instructor-led courses or fully online courses, but rather to highlight the advantages of conducting training on the company's premises. In-house training offers a host of benefits, including greater convenience, customised content, and enhanced employee engagement, making it the best choice for most companies who are looking to upskill their workforce.
Introduction
Training and developing employees is essential for any business that needs to continually improve the skill sets of their staff, at least when they need to increase efficiency and speed up the expansion of the company. Although public training and online courses have been common methods to date, internal training has become more popular because of its many advantages. This article will explore the benefits of internal training and explain why it could be the ideal option for your organisation.
Cost Savings
In-house training offers a valuable opportunity to reduce expenses as compared to public training courses. With in-house training, organisations can save on costs per participant, as training companies only need to send a trainer to the designated location, eliminating the need for additional equipment and training space. This results in significant cost savings, particularly when training a large group of employees.
Besides the savings in hiring the instructor, there is also a bonus in that any staff will not have to travel, this potentially saving a sizable sum, especially when an overnight stay is required.
Customised and Targeted Training
One of the key advantages of in-house training is the ability to provide customised and targeted training that meets the specific needs of an organisation. In-house training allows companies to create training programs that address their particular challenges and requirements. Unlike public training sessions that serve a wide audience, in-house training allows for a more focused and personalised approach. Trainers can incorporate real-world examples and case studies that are pertinent to the organisation, enhancing the effectiveness and relevance of the training. Additionally, in-house training offers the unique opportunity to use current work examples, enabling employees to engage in projects or scenarios directly related to their roles and immediate challenges. Plus, the fact that the environment is 'closed' means that everyone can talk freely, a fact that is bound to improve the effectiveness of training session.
Convenient and Flexible
In-house training offers numerous benefits, including convenience and flexibility, which make it a top choice for many businesses. By hosting training at their own facility, it is easy to integrate it into the employees' schedules, minimising disruptions and ensuring they can attend without having to adjust their work flows significantly. Additionally, you can quickly address immediate training needs by arranging courses on your own terms, rather than waiting for the next public offering. This flexibility allows employees to develop essential skills in a timely manner, thus helping to keep the organisation competitive.
Staff Collaboration
In-house training provides a unique opportunity for team building and collaboration as it brings together employees from various departments and levels within an organisation. This environment fosters bonding and knowledge sharing, which can lead to increased creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. By training together, staff can learn from each other's experiences and perspectives, creating an atmosphere that would not be possible in public courses. This method of training not only develops skills but also promotes teamwork and collaboration, ultimately benefiting the organisation as a whole.
Things to Consider
There is little doubt that in-house training offers many advantages, but there are two things that must also be considered.
Number of Staff Requiring Training
Internal / In House training only normally becomes cost-effective when there is a sufficient number of employees with similar learning needs. Typically, organising in-house training makes financial sense when there are at least four employees to train. For smaller groups, or when they have diverse learning requirements, attending public training courses might be a more suitable choice.
Varying Training Methods
Even though in-house training can offer tailored and focused learning opportunities, it is crucial to use a variety of training methods to prevent monotony. Incorporating external courses alongside in-house training allows employees to stay current with industry best practices and provides networking opportunities beyond the organisation. Essentially, balancing in-house training with external options results in a more comprehensive learning experience for all employees.
Conclusion
Businesses can reap numerous benefits from in-house training. The approach is often the most cost-effective, allows for fully tailored training programs, is more convenient, and has the added bonus of promoting teamwork among colleagues. Factors such as the number of employees and the need for diverse training techniques must be taken into account. Still, in many cases companies can obtain better results for less expenditure by adopting in-house training.
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