Staff training is one of the best investments you can make for the future success of your business.

As margins get tighter, professional development for your staff is a great way to give your business a competitive advantage. Increasing your employee’s skillset should improve competency and efficiency on the job, boost sales and create an environment that encourages repeat customers.

Everyone has had an experience in a restaurant, for example, where they could tell the staff were on-point. The food was delicious and on-time, the front of house staff were knowledgeable and attentive, and you were made to feel special – not just another receipt in the till. You almost certainly visited again, told friends and family about the great experience you had, or perhaps even posted a review online.

Despite the positive differences well-trained employees make to the day-to-day running of a business, staff training is often ignored by companies that see it as ‘time-consuming’ and ‘expensive’. Yet there are numerous training options around to suit the different needs of businesses, learning requirements of staff, and budget constraints. Some of these include:

• external industry training such as conferences, seminars or workshops
• online courses
• job shadowing – great for people new to a role
• in-house training – a session taken by a more experienced member of staff.

When choosing the right training option for staff, it’s important to make the decision based on what the business requires. What works for other companies may not work for you. Training doesn’t have to be expensive or take your employees away from work. Job-shadowing and in-house training provide ways to upskill your staff while they are still on the job.

Not only will quality training improve the performance of your staff at work – allowing them to take on new tasks and greater responsibility within the organisation – it will show that you value them. Happier, more engaged staff will be another bonus for your business.