Some companies follow a great training plan, others don’t. Some people commit to developing themselves, others don’t.
For us to really ensure that we are making the most of our training, we should consider whether the employees themselves see it as a major benefit.
Accredited courses are great – they are sometimes costly, but there are companies out there that can help you get some funded training. These courses give your employees certification and clarification on their development, so they will see it as a valuable benefit of working with your company.
However, if you cannot get access to these courses you may want to find out if your own training can be accredited.
ABTA began its ATP (Accredited Travel Professional) scheme a while ago and, although it took some time, companies are now embracing the fact that gaining this accreditation means something. The scheme is now helping the industry to become more professional, and it also helps to attract and retain staff.
To really boost your in-house training team, why not look at the Institute of Travel and Tourism Accreditation scheme. The ITT focuses on the delivery and evaluation of what you do, and can also provide accreditation.
If I was still working as an in-house training manager, I would be delighted if my company looked at getting this – it’s almost like winning an award.
Training doesn’t have to involve a formal course. You can invest time in your employees’ on-the-job training, and a great way of encouraging ideas, suggestions and finding out about peoples’ talents is to offer a mentoring programme within your company.
Drawing on my experience as a mentor for businesses and universities, I believe it advantages individuals enormously, which in turn boosts the business.
Whatever form of training and development you use, it is a major benefit to people. Highlight it as such so that your employees understand that you are committed to them, respect them and want to develop them.
A quote that I often use by training guru Ken Blanchard is: “People who feel good about themselves produce good results” – worth all of us remembering, especially in the current climate.
Debbee Dale, managing director, AA People Development