Existing employees gain benefit from training and development, which includes updating skills and competences and fostering a good culture of self-worth and value.
One of the elements that might enhance employee retention and foster a happy workplace is relevant and high-quality training efforts.
They can, however, be pricey.
If you are a small business without the financial resources of a huge organisation, there are still programmes and initiatives you may adopt without having to pay exorbitant fees for conferences or seminars.
Employees don’t have to miss out on time spent investing in themselves because of these options, which can be just as successful.
Budget-friendly strategies to teach and inspire employees
Here are a few excellent suggestions and tips for training, inspiring, and educating employees on a budget.
Know your industry – if you know where to look, you may get a plethora of free information. Try professional organisations that offer webinars, intriguing blog posts, and white papers. You may need to pay a membership fee, but this will give you access to a variety of beneficial information that you can share with your entire team.
Simply compare the cost of a little monthly subscription price to the expense of hiring an expert to come in and conduct a course; Use an employee forum, which is a free and effective way to enhance staff integration by allowing departments that might not ordinarily interact to interact.
A book club is a variation on this that brings people together who would not typically interact. It’s natural and beneficial to employees on a variety of levels.
Create a mentorship or buddy programme, which is a nice idea that was effectively adapted from the academic world. Pair people up so that each person can improve the skills and experience of the other. It’s a huge win because most employees will welcome the opportunity to mentor new or less experienced employees.
Bring in an industry expert or relevant speaker – this can kick-start a beneficial process of cross business engagement by allowing employees to have access with colleagues in similar and dissimilar companies.
Start a lunchtime group, and ask employees to listen to a speaker or presentation while eating – the employer can provide the meal, as well as drinks and snacks to accompany it.
This is an excellent use of time because it does not interfere with the working day and encourages improved attendance.
Keep up with new platforms, and don’t forget about video sites like YouTube, where you can get a five-minute presentation on almost any subject. LinkedIn is another useful resource, as it offers a wide range of online business, technical, and creative courses.
Podcasts are the newest instructional tool on the block, and they’re incredibly convenient to utilise at any time and in any location. Don’t forget about tried-and-true methods like trade periodicals and trade journals, as many of them now have an internet presence.
Why not provide public speaking training to some of your employees? Toastmasters offers a low-cost course that helps people build confidence and leadership skills.
Analyze what you’re already doing and either improve or redesign established systems and methods. Identify a few of the things that occur underneath the surface each day, such as on-the-job training or mentoring, and incorporate them into a formalised training plan — you might already be doing more than you think.
Learn about your employees’ personal stories, hobbies, and interests; there may be useful and transferrable abilities that can be shared with the rest of the team right in your midst.
Most employees will have something to contribute, whether it is related to their profession or something they are interested with outside of work. Make sure your hiring programme recognises potential employee that might be interested in training and development opportunities.
Training suggestions
Instead of using PowerPoint, use an interactive and collaborative approach to training that will interest employees of all ages and backgrounds. If you’re using online resources, hold a group session in a conference room where everyone can take the course at the same time, but remember to allow for flexibility and access for those who are unable to attend.
Take employee comments on current courses and recommended initiatives, and encourage both input and feedback as part of the process. Staff training does not have to be difficult or expensive, and budget and schedule constraints can often lead to some of the most popular and effective training.
Of course for technical training such as that for new software and IT Systems, work from home training, cybersecurity safety training and more, it can be worth investing in professional training schemes that will in the end protect your company and save you far more money in productivity and by preventing malicious attacks.
About EC-MSP, your IT support partner
EC-MSP are one of the most trusted IT support providers in London. If you would like more help advice and support with technology for your business, contact us today to see how we can help.
