Investing in your employees’ professional training is essential in order to:
- Remain competitive.
- Maintain a high-performance team.
HR professionals and managers play a key role in selecting the training provider that best meets your company's needs. But how do you make the right choice?
Here are six tips for choosing the provider best suited to your HR, managerial or commercial challenges.
1. Identify your training needs and goals
Before you start looking for a training provider, the first step is to identify your company's training goals:
- What skills do your employees need to develop to remain effective in their jobs?
- What are the specific areas in which the company needs to improve?
- What are the short- and long-term goals to be achieved through training?
Once you have answered these questions, you will be able to define an appropriate skills development plan. Then make a shortlist of the most appropriate training providers.
2. Check the potential providers’ reputation and expertise
It is essential to carry out in-depth research for each potential training partner. We recommend:
- Checking their website.
- Reading their customer reviews.
- Asking for recommendations from other companies.
You will also need to ensure that your provider has solid experience in the targeted training field. To do this, you can check their certifications, their professional affiliations and proof of ROI from other clients.
Here are a few examples:
- The eduQua certification is a prerequisite in Switzerland. If the service provider doesn't have it, it's best to move on.
- For a language training provider, checking their fide certification will give you an idea of the quality of the language courses provided.
- A CSR commitment, such as supporting the United Nations Global Compact, will demonstrate an ethical approach.
3. Assess the relevance of training programmes
Initially, analysing their website and brochures will give you a good overview of the subjects covered. It will also help you to ensure that the courses they offer are in line with the company's skills needs.
Then, a meeting with the sales team will give you a better understanding of their process:
- Are the programmes turnkey or tailored to your employees’ needs?
- What teaching methods do they use?
- Is the training in-person, remote or both? Do courses take place at your office or at the training provider’s?
- Do they adapt to your company's needs?
- What assessments are carried out at the end of the course?
- What support do they offer learners?
- What additional services do they offer?
These are just some of the questions that will help you to understand the support provided and whether it meets your needs.
4. Take into account the trainers' experiences
Trainers play an essential role in the success of the course. Finding out about their experience and qualifications will give you a more complete picture of the course on offer:
- Are they recognised experts in their field?
- Do they have practical experience in your company's industry?
- How long have they been trainers for?
- Do they have adequate training certifications?
5. Assess the flexibility and adaptability of the training provider
Les prestataires sélectionnés proposent-ils de reprogrammer un cours ou une session sans frais en cas d’imprévus ? S’adaptent-ils à l’apprenant ? Sont-ils flexibles quant aux horaires et au lieu de formation ?
An organisation that knows how to adapt to a company's constraints and is open to customisation will be a valuable partner in the long term!
6. Consider value for money
Of course, budget is an important factor when selecting a training centre. You'll need to compare what's on offer in terms of:
- Costs
- Programmes
- Methods used
- Additional services provided
- ROI from previous clients
Sometimes, investing a little more is beneficial if it guarantees better quality training and tangible results for the company. The decision should therefore be based on overall value for money, not just cost.
In summary
Choosing the right training provider for your business is a crucial decision for employee development. Adopting a methodical approach and carrying out thorough research will help you find the provider:
- Who will best meet the company's unique needs.
- Who will help to enhance employees' skills and stimulate the company's growth.
Formations&Co, your corporate training partner
Formations&Co has helped companies nurture their talents and improve their performance since 2010. Flexibility, adaptability and ethics are at the heart of our process.
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