Top Ten Tips on how to provide learning & development on a zero budget
In times of austerity, or when business is tough, the budget for things like training and development can be the first to suffer. But having a highly skilled workforce is key to the success of any business. And having professional development opportunities is also essential if you want a motivated and enthusiastic workforce.
Here are our top tips for harnessing your colleagues’ ambitions, even if your budget is tight.
1. Performance management
Providing appraisals and one to one supervision meetings between line managers and employees is one of the basic, fundamental things every organisation should offer. And it doesn’t cost anything! Of course, if your budget is tight and any external training is unobtainable, then you need to be up front about the limitations you have as an employer. But that doesn’t stop you being creative about how you manage career development opportunities.
2. Create a coaching culture
Creating a coaching culture doesn’t need to cost anything but time. It’s amazing what people can achieve if they feel motivated, valued and inspired. The best way to harness your employees’ ambition and sense of purpose is to coach them to help them achieve their goals. This could be linked to a particular project, a way of developing personal skills or enhancing performance across the business.
3. Share your skills
If you don’t have any money to spend on external training and development coaches, then the alternative may well be right under your nose! Every company is made up of individuals with unique skills and abilities – so why not share them? Once you have identified what your training needs are, why not develop an internal training programme delivered by your directors or senior colleagues? Or you could ask more experienced colleagues to present information at your team meetings or at regular skills-sharing workshops.
4. Work with other organisations
Training courses can be expensive to run if you have a small number of people attending them. But there may be discounts available if you’re able to make up the numbers and make it worthwhile for the training organisation to run. So why not team up with other like-minded organisations in your town, city, region or industry sector to see if they are interested in asking their staff to attend? You may be able to agree a discount or special deal with the training providers if you work together, especially if you’re a public sector organisation.
5. Create an online resource
Most companies have an Intranet for staff, full of business news, links to useful contacts, policies and procedures. But your Intranet pages could be much more alluring and useful than that of they include training and development opportunities and resources. For example, you could have a dedicated training page on your Intranet, with links to e-learning courses linked to your industry sector. These could include information about laws and regulations relating to your industry or information governance.
6. Provide work shadowing opportunities
If you can’t afford to send employees on formal training courses, then providing practical on the job training opportunities with more experienced colleagues can be a great alternative. This could be done internally within your organisation or externally with the partners you work with. There may not be a formal qualification at the end of it, but it will help imbed a skills sharing culture within your workforce and encourage everyone to work as a team.
7. Job rotation
The best way to learn a new skill is from each other – so why not swap roles or job share? Job rotation may sound scary but it offers employees the opportunity to work in different areas of their department or even the whole business. And by encouraging them to work outside their comfort zone, they will no doubt return to their original roles more informed about your organisation as a whole. Employees can also bring a fresh perspective to a new role which leads to more creativity and innovation.
8. Attend conferences and exhibitions
Time spent out of the office or your usual workplace can be time well spent if you have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders and other professionals within your field. Attending events can also be a great way to network with other like-minded industry professionals and if you’re presenting or displaying information about your business, it can help you discuss topical information more confidently. So why not take a look at what events and conferences your local Chamber of Commerce or governing body are hosting?
9. Allow time off for training and study
The Government says staff may have the right to ask for time off work for training or study if they are officially classed as an employee (rather than agency staff), they have worked for the organisation for at least 26 weeks and if the training will help them do their job better.
Ambitious employees may be willing to pay for their own training or qualifications if employers allow them time off to attend college or university. By being flexible with your staff when it comes to time off, you’re also more likely to retain them when they do achieve their qualifications and look for opportunities to utilise them in the workplace.
10. Provide apprenticeships
According to Skills Training UK, more than 130, 000 businesses across the UK already offer apprenticeships. They are becoming more popular with employers because they can fill the skills gap in their workforce as apprentices learn industry sector skills on the job from day one. Hiring apprentices can be more cost effective than hiring skilled staff, can cut down on training and recruitment costs and also help you shape and inspire your future workforce. They are also becoming more popular with people at the start of their careers who are looking for a less costly alternative to going to university. And don't forget, with the new funding levy arrangements beginning in May, there is even more reason, particularly for larger organisations, to support apprenticeships
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cHRysos HR Solutions are a UK wide HR training and consultancy company offering CIPD accredited qualifications, Apprenticeships, Training and HR Services to SMEs. For more information about how cHRysos HR can help you or your teams successfully achieve further qualifications, contact us on info@chrysos.org.uk or call 03300 562443.