Organising training for your staff can be time-consuming so before you start remind yourself of the many and considerable benefits of regular and expert training for your staff.

The benefits of good training

Training may be necessary for an organisation to meet its legal obligations. You may be jeopardising your organisation and its work if you do not ensure that staff and volunteers are trained in specific areas. But even where training is not a legal necessity, the improved skills and abilities of your workforce leads to improved service delivery and quality of provision. It also boosts job/role satisfaction and assists with morale and the retention of your staff and volunteers .

Selecting the right trainer

Training Providers come in all shapes and sizes, from sole trading specialists (who may operate in specific localities delivering a narrow range of training courses reflecting their specialism) through education and training institutions offering accredited training in many subject areas, to
large national companies with branches in many parts of the country.

Training is vital but it comes at a cost to every group or organisation. Even when training provision is free, there is always a cost since staff and volunteers spending time on training courses takes them away from delivering services.  This can require the reduction or suspension of services or create extra costs in the provision of back-up staff.

So, the decision to invest in training is a crucial one for your organisation so it is very important that you take care to make good decisions in selecting the right trainers for you.

What should you be looking for in recruiting a good trainer?

Quality Assurance – check that the trainer you want to hire has the relevant level of quality – are they a member of the relevant training body, do they have relevant and updated experience of the issue, do they have training qualifications?

Check their track record – make sure that the training provider can give you evidence of their successful track record. Quotes from satisfied participants are useful , but even better if the trainer gives you the chance to speak to people who have benefited from their work.

The best way to select a trainer is to have experienced their work directly yourself. There is no substitute for personal experience or a direct recommendation from someone you trust. Make sure you ask if you can talk to others about their experience of a particular trainer or company.

A good trainer should ask plenty of questions and cover most if not all of this ground themselves. Good practice trainers often carry out their own pre-course surveys of learners to familiarise themselves with the skills and experience levels of the people concerned and to identify any special issues that need addressing.

Learning methods and additional needs - there are many learning methods reflecting the fact that we all learn differently. Make sure that you select trainers that are experienced in creating courses and learning opportunities that encompass a range of learning styles and methods of delivery appropriate for the subject matter. Consider too the learning needs of your staff and volunteers.  When selecting a trainer ensure that discus any additional needs the learners have.

And finally, don't forget about the venue!

Training venues are vital. Even the greatest trainers and most keen learners will not function at their best in venues where there is not sufficient space, air, light and essential equipment and facilities. Comfortable chairs are crucial . Saving money by booking training in cheap venues can
easily backfire.