1. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies Revision Presentations 2004 Training

2. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies Introduction – Training Strategy Effective training in a business starts with a training strategy The main steps in developing a training strategy are to: Identify the skills and abilities needed by employees; Draw up an action plan to show how investment in training and development will help meet business goals and objectives; Implement the plan, monitoring progress and training effectiveness

3. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies Benefits of Training to a Business Better productivity (and, therefore, lower production / operating costs) Higher quality More flexibility - training helps employees develop a variety of skills Less supervision - lower supervision and management costs if employees can get on with their jobs. This might also improve motivation - through greater empowerment Better recruitment and employee retention - businesses with a good reputation for training are likely to find it easier to attract good quality staff - and then keep them Help in achieving change - businesses with strong training systems and culture find it easier to implement change programmes

4. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies What Training Cannot Solve Tempting to think that training is the solution to many if not all business problems However, there are some things that training can rarely solve: these include: Poor management (although management training might help!) Poor job design Ineffective or inefficient equipment Poor production organisation Recruitment

5. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies Reasons Why Businesses Don’t Do Enough Training If training is so important, why do some businesses invest so little in it? Ideally training should be seen as an investment in the future of the business. it takes time for the effects of training to impact business performance. Some businesses are reluctant to spend on training because:  They fear employees will be poached by competitors (who will then benefit from the training)  A desire to minimise short-term costs  They cannot make a justifiable investment case

6. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies Induction training What it involves  Introducing new employees to job, their new colleagues, premises and to values, and aims of business Length and type depend on:  Size of business  Complexity of job  Level or position of job within business

7. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies Typical Elements of an Induction Programme Learning about duties of job Meeting new colleagues Seeing layout premises Learning values and aims of business Learning about internal workings and policies of business

8. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies On-the-job Training What is it? Training that takes place whilst actually doing the job Most common methods of on the job training are:  Demonstration / instruction; showing the trainee how to do the job  Coaching - a more intensive method of training that involves a close working relationship between an experienced employee and the trainee  Job rotation - where the trainee is given several jobs in succession, to gain experience of a wide range of activities (e.g. a graduate management trainee might spend periods in several different departments)  Projects - employees join a project team - which gives them exposure to other parts of the business and allow them to take part in new activities. Most successful project teams are "multi- disciplinary"

9. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies Advantages of On the Job Training Generally more cost effective Less disruptive to the business - i.e. employees are not away from work Training an employee in their own working environment, with equipment they are familiar with and people they know can help they gain direct experience to a standard approved by the employer Employees may find that they have more confidence if they are supervised and guided as they feel they are doing the job right Employees may feel more at ease being taught or supervised by people they know rather than complete strangers at an external training course Managers or supervisors can assess improvement and progress over a period of time and this makes it easier to identify a problem intervene and resolve problems quickly On the job training is also productive, as the employee is still working as they are learning As training progresses and the employee begins to feel more confident, this confidence would allow them to work at a higher standard and ultimately be more productive Training "on-the-job" provides an opportunity to get to know staff they might not normally talk to

10. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies Off-the-job training What it involves  Takes place outside workplace e.g. at a college or training agency  Learn from specialists in that work area  May take form of lectures or self-study Reasons why employers prefer this:  A wider range of skills or qualifications can be obtained  Can learn from specialists or experts  More confident when starting job Disadvantages  More expensive – means spending money on transport and accommodation  Lose working time and potential output from employee  New employees may still need some induction training  Employees now have new skills/qualifications and may leave for better jobs

11. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies Main Types of Off the Job Training Day release (where the employee takes time out from normal working hours to attend a local college or training centre) Distance learning / evening classes Block release courses - which may involve several weeks at a local college Sandwich courses - where the employee spends a longer period of time at college (e.g. six months) before returning to work Sponsored courses in higher education Self-study, computer-based training (an increasingly popular option - given that attendance at external courses can involve heavy cost)

12. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies Job Appraisal An important part of managing people is to let them know how they are performing Appraisal system designed to identify an individual employee’s strengths and weaknesses  Collecting information and assessing performance of individual  An interview  Setting targets and evaluating training needs

13. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies Link between Training and Motivation Assuming training is effective: then… Employees feel more loyal to firm Shows that business is taking an interest in its workers Provide employees with greater promotional opportunities Enables employees to achieve more at work – perhaps gaining financially from this

14. tutor2u ™ GCSE Business Studies Government Support for Training Department for Education and Skills is government department responsible for training  Funds and overseas training schemes at a national and local level  Mainly through 78 Training and Enterprise Councils (TEC’s) Other notable schemes include:  New Deal (aimed at people aged between 18-24 and out of work for more than 6 months)  ‘Investors in People’ programme (encouraging businesses to put training as a priority)