Training
From WikiTextbook
Businesses will train and develop their workers in the hope of increasing their skills and commitment. This in turn should help the employees to be better at their jobs and deliver better goods and services.
Training involves workers learning new skills or improving the ones they already have. The business will hope that the training will help the employee to become better at their current job. Development involves helping the individual to achieve their full potential. If a worker achieves their full potential, it means s/he will be able to maximise their level of production or sales, for example. Development does not necessarily relate to the job the worker is doing at the moment.
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Induction Training
When a new worker starts a new job he or she should be given induction training. The purpose of induction training is to introduce the employee to the job and the business. It is hoped that induction training will put employees in a better position to carry out their role within the business. Employees will be given information about and training in the business’s history, aims, objectives, health and safety measures and rules.
Staff Training
A business will provide its employees training with the aim of giving them the skills to carry out their job or improve the skills they already have. This should help the business to stay up to date with modern working practices and deliver the best possible good or service.
Identifying the need for training
One of the most difficult questions a business has to answer is; what type of training is required and who needs it? The business could choose to look at its workers’ job descriptions to make a list of the knowledge and skills that are required. If its workers do not have this knowledge and skill then this would suggest that training is required.
The costs of training
The business will normally have to pay for the training its workers receive, although it is possible that the government may pay for some of it. When the business provides training it might have to pay money to somebody who comes into the business or a college that puts on courses. In addition to this, when workers are training, they will be unable to work normally which could lead to a fall in the amount being produced. The costs of not training If a business decides not to train its workforce, it will be left with employees that do not have the skills to carry out their job properly. This may lead to consumers becoming dissatisfied with the goods or services they buy from the business. There may also be problems with the health and safety of workers if they do not possess the right skills they may be more likely to have an accident. If the business wants to have a workforce that is able to adapt to changes in the workplace, offer high quality goods and services and work in a safe manner they will have to offer training.
Types of training
Training may be given either on the job or off the job. On the job training will be given the employee whilst they are carrying out their job. Off the job training will be given to employees away from their job, at a conference or at a local college for example.
Retraining To Use New Technology
Technology is advancing at a very fast pace. If businesses wish to use this new technology, in the hope of reducing their costs or increasing their output, they will have to ensure their workforce is capable of using it. Retraining maybe required to give employees the skills to use new machinery or updated software.
Appraisal and Performance Reviews
A business will use an appraisal or a performance review as a way of assessing how well an employee is doing their job. It will normally be done on a regular basis, such as once per year. During the appraisal/performance review the employee will be judged on his/her performance during the previous time period. Their performance could be judged on one or two specific issues or it could be a more general review of the performance in all areas.
The appraisal/performance review will normally be carried out by one of the worker’s superiors. It could also be, and often is, someone at the same level. The worker will receive feedback on their performance and given targets for the future. It may also highlight the need for further training.
Investors in People
Investors in People was developed during 1990 by the Department for Employment and Education and the National Training Task Force. It was set up do provide a national standard that encourages businesses to develop training and development their workforce. (picture of investor in people plaque)
Further information about Investors in People can be found at [www.iipuk.co.uk]
If a business achieves the standard they are allowed to display a plaque. In order to achieve the standard the business must satisfy the four following principles:
• Commitment – the business must make a commitment to invest in people. This investment should help them achieve business goals;
• Planning – the business must plan how skills, individuals and teams can be developed to achieve these business goals;
• Action – the business should take action to develop and use the skills of its workforce;
• Evaluating – the business should evaluate how effective the training and development of its workforce has been.
Modern Apprenticeships
These were set up in 1994 to try and improve the training offered by businesses. The Government contributes to the cost of training the apprentices. Most modern apprentices earn a wage and are viewed as employees by the business. Modern apprentices are available in over 70 industries, including services, engineering and manufacturing.
National Training Awards
The National Training Awards (NTA) are given to UK businesses that have provided excellent training for a number of years. In order to win a National Training Award the business must demonstrate that they are committed to exceptional training that has benefits for the business, the community and the individual worker. National Training Awards are awarded at 3 levels:
• Local Training Awards – these are awarded to businesses that are judged as demonstrating outstanding achievement in their region in England, or nation in the case of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland;
• National Training Awards – these are awarded to businesses that demonstrate exceptional achievement made through training and development, selected from across the UK;
• Special National Training Awards – are awarded to businesses, that have already won awards, which deserve special commendation for their efforts to training and development.
