Authors
This how-to guide was created by TaraDaynes This guide has also been edited by WEditor and chrism
How to train and develop people without spending a fortune
An average rating of 5.0000000000000000
from
12
votes |
Rate this page
|
Rating stats
Rating statistics for this page
5.0 out of 5 from 12 votes
Breakdown
12 votes
0 votes
0 votes
0 votes
0 votes
CloseWhen money’s too tight to mention, expenditure on training, learning and development activity is usually one of the first things to go. This is something of a false economy though, since your people become less effective, less efficient and less productive – meaning so does your organisation! Fortunately, learning and development isn’t all about sending people on training courses that cost about the same as a week’s holiday in Tenerife. Here’s how to develop people on a slashed budget, without sacrificing quality...
Find the freebies
They’re out there; you just need to know where to look! Many solicitors’ firms run free legal update seminars on topics such as employment law, charity law and people management topics. Try local branches of professional membership bodies such as the CIPD, as they usually have a programme of speakers and seminars, and you don’t always need to be a member. Check business support services such as City Business Library, who also have a huge range of free events on offer covering a multitude of business topics. Not only can your staff increase their knowledge and skills in various areas, they can also use many events to network over drinks and nibbles. Free publicity for your cause and free food - what’s not to like?!
Develop your internal trainers
You probably have a wealth of expertise and specialist skills and knowledge in your organisation – you just need to tap into it! Probably the only thing that is preventing some of your more experienced/qualified/skilled staff and volunteers from effectively sharing their expertise with others, is a lack of instructional skills. Invest a few bob in developing some of your key people as internal trainers, coaches and mentors, start delivering internal training and development programmes, and you will get a return on your investment many times over!
Use different types of on-the-job learning
Don’t just limit people to the ‘sitting with Nellie’ approach to on-the-job learning. Instead, try using secondments, workshadowing, action learning etc. to give people new responsibilities and experiences at work. Not only will they develop new skills, knowledge and insights, they will also be increasing their promotion opportunities – making it easier (and cheaper!) for you to fill vacancies internally.
Encourage self-managed learning online
Encourage and enable people to learn for themselves, using the myriad of free resources available on the ‘tinterweb’. Research and reading suits those who like to learn in their own time and reflect on what they’re learning. If people don’t like to read stuff, YouTube and Managers PitStop (and KnowHow's Study Zone!) are just two excellent sources of business training videos – and since many are short bite-size clips, they’re ideal for people with the attention span of a goldfish! Interactive e-learning activities are great for those who like a bit more audience participation. So there’s something for everyone!
Use a smaller training provider
Not necessarily someone who’s five foot two in heels – but small training organisations and sole traders are much cheaper than most of the big-name, big-size providers. This doesn’t mean they don’t deliver the same quality – in fact, independent trainers are often more likely to give you a personalised service that is tailored to the needs of your organisation.
Get some funding
As with freebies, there are grants and funding sources available, you just need to know where to look! A great, if rather convoluted, way of getting a significant grant is Train to Gain's Leadership and Management fund, where (subject to some eligibility requirements) you can claim up to £1000 in matched funding. IBP and Interchange Trust can both help you access the fund - website details below!
Further information
Guardian Voluntary Sector Network ran a Q&A session called How to meet your charity's training needs on a budget which also has lots of useful suggestions.
Sources of cost-effective or free learning!
- Inspiring Business Performance
- KnowHow's events board lists many free courses and events.
- KnowHow's Study Zone
Useful learning websites
Similar how-tos
Find how-tos
Join in
How-tos are written by the users of this site; they can be anyone working within the charity sector. By sharing knowledge we can all support each other across the sector and help make things better.
How-tos are collaborative - we encourage other users to add to, edit and update existing how-tos as they see fit. Changes can also be undone. Don't worry, you can't 'break' anything!
If we see inappropriate or abusive behaviour we will prevent that user from making changes.
So log in, join in, and help make a difference!
