The Importance of Training & Development (OCR GCSE Business)

Why Businesses Train Workers

• Both new and existing staff need to be trained and developed appropriately

  • Training is the teaching of specific new skills and knowledge

  • Development is the improvement of existing skills or enhancement of worker skills over time

• Some training is required to meet legal requirements

  • Food safety regulations require workers to be trained in the safe handling of ingredients

  • Businesses must ensure that some workers have first-aid training

  • Employees working with hazardous chemicals must receive appropriate training

Factors that determine the training provided

The cost of training

• The cost of training and development can be significant, especially if businesses make use of external training providers or enrol staff on courses to achieve formal qualifications such as degrees

  • Businesses that are in a weak financial position often scale back training programmes, preferring cheaper on the job approaches

The type of training

• The needs of workers will usually determine the type of training or development required

  • Business-specific knowledge and skills may be best delivered in-house, as external course providers are unlikely to be able to meet trainees' needs fully

  • Professional qualifications are often delivered by colleges or universities

Existing employee skills

• Employees' existing skills and experience will determine how much and at what level of training or development they should be involved

  • Experienced employees with effective communication skills are often well-placed to deliver training or oversee the development of others

  • In some cases, there may be concern that poor working practices may be passed on to other employees

Induction Training

• Induction training is usually delivered as soon as possible after new workers join a business

• It introduces employees to the organisation, its culture, policies, procedures and their job roles and responsibilities

  • E.g. Induction training for new employee at Marks & Spencer covers customer service procedures, product knowledge, store policies and safety procedures

• Some aspects of induction training need to be revisited by employees regularly

  • Health and safety training needs to be carried out regularly, especially when new regulations come into effect

  • When business policies change, employees need to understand the implications for their job role

An Evaluation of Induction Training

Benefits of Training and Development

• Training and developing a workforce is beneficial to a business for several reasons

The Benefits of Training and Development