top tips for SME's

Questions and Answers

Robert Marr, managing director of t2 business solutions

1.Why is training important?

For most SMEs, the people they employ are their most important asset. In today’s competitive business environment, organisations who want to stay one step ahead of the game must engage in training to give their staff the skills they need to perform to the best of their ability.

2. What benefits will it bring to my business?

The benefits of training are many. Apart from helping to give organisations that elusive competitive edge, investing in training helps to develop skills, improve business performance and prepares the workforce to deliver the organisation’s mission.

3. How do I go about assessing the training needs of my organisation?

It is a two-fold approach. First of all, you need to assess the needs of the business. Look at where it is going, its competitors, any external challenges such as industry or legislation changes or any internal cultural issues. Then you need to assess the skills needs of the employees. These should drop out of the annual appraisal system, especially if it is competency-based. If you use both of these approaches, you should be able to pin-point where the organisation’s training needs lie.

4. What sort of courses are available?

There really is a training package for everyone – whatever your industry and whatever the level, from open courses, e-learning and vocational training to tailored in-house courses and accredited qualifications. It is just a case of assessing what is on the market and what fits your business in terms of objectives, budgets, timing and delivery.

5. What about top end training for managers?

Your management team are the ones who drive the business forward – so it is essential that you invest in them. By allocating a large amount of the training budget to management training, your business will reap the benefits and you will see a direct return on your investment. At t2, we offer a management development programme that is tailored to your business and is suitable for your entire management team, whatever the level. This takes the form of training, facilitation, coaching and mentoring and is provided by experienced managers who have years of experience in the field. We can also provide training and support for specific business tools such as Business Excellence and Balance Scorecards.

6. Will training take up a lot of time?

Courses vary in length and can last anything from an intensive one day session to part-time study over two years. Any training provider will recognise that training has to be flexible to fit in with the demands of a busy organisation, and should be delivered where and when it is needed.

7. How much will it cost?

The cost of training varies considerably according to the method of delivery, degree of speciality involved and length of course. In Wales, it can range from anything between £500 to £1,000 a day for in-house courses, to £300 to £800 per person per day for open courses. Always check what financial assistance may be available. ELWa provides funding for vocational training and also offers individual learning accounts. It may also be worth talking to the WDA.

8. How do I choose a training provider?

Choosing a training provider that is right for you is not always easy. While most organisations offer quality-based training, standards can vary. Take a close look at their credentials – the type of training they usually do, who they work for and whether you can get hold of any references. If they have been inspected by ESTYN, it would be worth finding out how they did. Another good sign is whether they are working towards or have obtained any external standards such as Investors in People, the Wales Quality Awards, Basic Skills Quality Kitemark and accreditation against ISO standards (International Standards Organisation). All of this should give you an indication of the importance they place on quality.

Contact Box

t2 business solutions is one of Wales’s largest training providers, offering a number of quality-focused business support services. It specialises in management development solutions for Small to Medium Sized Enterprises, providing a comprehensive set of training packages and mentoring programmes. For further information contact Dave Marr on 01633 212133 or visit www.t2business.co.uk

Training – a step by step guide

• Find out what the needs of the business are
• Find out what the needs of the employees are
• Decide whether you want skills for the business or qualifications
• Set objectives for the overall programme as well as objectives for the learners
• Decide on the budget
• Find out what funding is available
• Prioritise training needs
• Allocate budget depending on priority
• Pick a training and development company which begins by looking at your business goals
• Ensure you evaluate the training for effectiveness at key milestones, at the end and six months later to see what impact on the business it has had. Incorporate this into your annual planning cycle