Should I Consider In-House Training?

We all know that ongoing development and training are important for the continued success and growth of business. Professional institutions insist their members continually improve their knowledge and enhance their understanding. There are a plethora of options available. Training can be external or held in-house, bespoke or standard, on any manner of subject or content.

Many organisations now offer courses and training to help bring the skills of your team up to a higher level. The e-courses offered by Claims Class and our workshops are an example. Many firms offer free seminars. There are one-day courses, distance learning, academic courses and many other options available.

One option you might not have considered is in-house training. But why should you think about bringing your training in-house? And what are the potential benefits? What are the risks? We take a look…

Advantages

Let’s start with a few benefits. You might think these are obvious, but some might not be so clear…

• Cost-saving: It’s often cheaper to train people in-house, particularly if you have a group of five or more people to train. A single booking for a course might be around $800 per person for a day. Alternatively, you can hire a trainer for a day on pre-determined content. This will normally be significantly cheaper than sending those people to a scheduled course. The provider can save a lot of time and effort which they can pass on to you. You also save money on travel and other costs, particularly if you host the training in your own venue.
• Bespoke Service: You can benefit from the advantage of having the course leader’s undivided attention. They can provide a specialist and unique service tailored to your particular needs and requirements. Your team will be able to ask them candid questions about projects and issues they come across in their work.
• Team Building: Bring your team together in one location. The team can then engage in conversations with people they might not otherwise see. This usually leads to increased awareness of different roles in the business. They’ll learn about different projects and share knowledge and experience. This can return unexpected value to your business.

Disadvantages

Are there disadvantages? We’ve thought of a few – like everything, there are always some downsides.

• Limited Networking: One of the advantages of a public course is the chance to meet new people and potential clients. By bringing your training in-house, that avenue of opportunity is closed off.
• Administration: There are some extra potential admin pressures. You may need to arrange catering, venue etc yourself. Having said this, most training providers are well used to organising such things. They should, therefore, be able to assist if you need help.

Decisions, Decisions…

There are significant advantages to in-house training. Whether it’s right for you and your team will be something only you can determine. Identifying the right training and ensuring the best results for you should probably be something you take time over. Ideally you should ensure your decision is objective and based on all available facts. All too often, people purchase training without considering exactly what the costs and benefits are to their business. There’s some helpful guidance in this article which might help you determine the best route to take.

Whatever solution you choose, or if you need help, we can provide support and guidance. Get in touch today and find out how our in-house training can help your teams become more effective. Call us on +971 4 452 6086 or email nina.hewitt@hewittconsultancy.com.