The Importance of Training and Development in the Workplace

To maximise the potential of your staff and your business, it is essential to invest in the training and development of your employees. In Scotland, over 64% of employers had invested in or arranged training for their employees in the past 12 months. The figure highlights the importance employers place on investing in training and development for their workplace. Why is it a crucial part of the employment contract, and what benefits can you gain overall for your business?

What is training and development?

Training and development may seem like the same thing, but while there is some overlap, there are crucial differences. Training can be offered for aspects of the job that are entirely new to the employee or when a refresher is needed. You may identify areas of weakness during their appraisal, in which case, it is a good idea to offer training in those areas. On the other hand, development is about improving employees to enable them to progress within the organisation. You might discuss career goals during their appraisal, and a development plan can help them to grow within your organisation. If your employees can identify clear career progression, they will be more likely to stay.

The Importance of Training and Development in the Workplace

Businesses often consider whether employee training and development is a cost-effective investment. It can be a significant cost, especially for an SME that might not have the same level of spending as a large organisation. These are some reasons why training and development is important in the workplace.

Understand Role Quickly

It is the ideal scenario for any manager that they hire an employee and they immediately hit the ground running. However, this is not always the case, especially if the employee comes from a different background or industry. A structured onboarding training plan helps employees quickly settle in and grasp their responsibilities.

Improve Retention 

Investing in employee training shows that you care, increasing their sense of value and decreasing the likelihood of them leaving. Employees like to feel valued. When they don't feel valued, they are more likely to leave.

Support Succession Planning

By providing training and development to employees, it can allow you to plan for future needs. For instance, you might provide training and development to support an employee with moving into a role where another employee is retiring. Your succession planning can become easier when you have a clear and concise training and development plan.

Cost Effective

You can never underestimate the importance of training and development in the workplace, as it can help support your recruitment efforts by allowing employees to move into other opportunities throughout the business. By equipping employees with new skills, training supports internal hiring, reducing the need for costly external recruitment methods like agencies and job ads.

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