Employers show it pays to train

Louise Smith, associate solicitor in the Employment team, discusses the merits of having a well-trained workforce.

Growing investment in training

Organisations in the UK reportedly spend over £40bn on training their workforces with around 40 per cent of spend coming from private or not-for-profit organisations. So it’s not surprising that the Employment team at Napthens has witnessed a significant trend in employers willing to invest time and money in training their people.

Why this is a wise investment

This is undoubtedly a very wise investment. Our team is being increasingly relied upon to deliver training sessions to anyone who has an employee reporting to them, on a wide range of issues ranging from performance management, equal opportunities, handling disciplinaries and grievances.

Addressing skill gaps in people management

Many individuals progress into management roles without formal training in people management. This can lead to challenges in areas such as:

• Performance management
• Equal opportunities
• Handling disciplinaries and grievances

Our team supports these managers by delivering tailored training that not only addresses key HR issues but also builds their leadership and communication skills.

Popular programmes: leadership and upskilling

Leadership development programmes and general upskilling sessions are proving very popular as this helps managers to help to train other people around them, consequently helping them progress in their respective roles. Employers are also investing more time in understanding employment law. Instead of it being seen as a burden, many employers are seeing it as a means to ensure their employees are looked after, valued and demonstrate that they are aware of their obligations as an employer.

Conclusion

Anecdotal evidence shows that investment in training or upskilling a workforce helps lead to the obvious general increase in knowledge, but can also help employees feel more confident in their role within the organisation, help boost morale, build goodwill and loyalty but more importantly –  productivity.