Training

Why is training important in FM?

If your organisations (whether you are FM providers, or have your own in-house FM team) are to survive and prosper in current climate of rapid change, you need to be more flexible, faster-moving and faster-learning than before. Their ability to do this rests upon the abilities of their people to have these characteristics – hence the value of training. If individuals are able to learn, develop and change, then so can the organisations. Providing training for employees not only helps them develop their skills and knowledge, but it is also motivational and a building block to organisational success.

Other benefits to your organisation include:

Higher productivity, which increases business output and can open up a greater share of the market or expand it by improving products, services and reputations. Staff who receive formal training can be 230% more productive than untrained colleagues who are working in the same role. (Source: Smith A., 2001, Return on Investment in Training: Research Readings NCVER)
Successful training is focused on supporting your business objectives
Training increases staff retention which is a significant cost saving, as the loss of one competent person can be the equivalent of one year's pay and benefits.
In some companies, training programs have reduced staff turnover by 70 per cent and led to a return on investment of 7,000%.
Improved quality and productivity, better safety practices and better customer service

Over time, training will boost the bottom line and reduce costs by decreasing:

wasted time and materials
maintenance costs of machinery and equipment
workplace accidents, leading to lower insurance premiums
recruitment costs through the internal promotion of skilled staff
absenteeism

Training staff to manage the implementation of new technology, work practices and business strategies can also act as a benchmark for future recruitment and quality assurance practices.

As well as impacting on business profit margins, training can improve:

staff morale and satisfaction
'soft skills' such as inter-staff communication and leadership
time management
customer satisfaction

It is important for any organisation, large or small, to plan the training that its people may need. While there can be enormous benefits in developing the capabilities of the workforce, training doesn’t come cheaply. Training needs to be for the right people, it needs to be the right type of training and it needs to be at the right time.

We can offer people development solutions in ‘soft skills’, from front line customer service, coaching skills for managers, building high performing FM teams, effective communications, right through to leadership skills for new Directors.

If you want a totally objective assessment of whether you should even be spending money on people development right now, call Liz Kentish on 07717 787077 or 01778 561326.