Key training issues for 2009
February 1st 2009 Neal Stone takes a look at the factors he believes will influence training choices for
the year ahead
With the UK economy
experiencing a downturn and
businesses fighting hard to
remain competitive, directors and
managers will be determined to ensure
that health and safety training adds real
value to a business rather than just
ensuring compliance with the law.
Over recent years the British Safety Council has seen a 'stepchange'
in the attitudes of those who determine the health and
safety training needs of their organisations.
Not too long ago, training budgets were routinely set without
a full needs analysis of the staff competences that are necessary to
ensure that risks to workers' health and safety are properly
controlled. For some it was simply a question of undertake the
training, any training, and tick the box.
Evidence suggests that this is very different now and with the
current economic climate as it is there are a number of key issues
that business leaders and managers need to consider with regards
to staff training for 2009.
Training Needs Analysis
Training Needs Analysis (TNA) is becoming more important
and during 2009 we will see more evidence that all organisations
– private, public and voluntary - are demanding training that
meets the personal needs of the staff member to carry out their
role and safely complete the tasks assigned to them.
In 2009, directors and managers will want to have clear evidence
that the health and safety training being provided is adding value to
the business and that there are tangible outputs including
improvements in performance. Clearly training may not be
approved unless the business is convinced that it supports its efforts
to comply with the law while contributing to clear business aims.
Training must be cost effective. 2009 might see a move towards
in-house training being provided by own staff rather than using
external training providers or using other methods to develop the
necessary skills and competence. Organisations will want to
ensure that the end result of equipping staff with the necessary
skills and competence is achieved in the most cost effective way.
The BSC has recognised that for both organisations and
individuals, there needs to be a more flexible approach to how and
when training is carried out. This is especially true of qualification
type training courses where the study is often carried out over a
prolonged period of time. 2009 will see a move towards training
organisations offering these types of courses in a wide range of
different ways to meet the personal needs of individuals and
companies. There is likely to be increasing demand for e-learning
and other 'modern' methods of training, such as blended and
distance learning, all of which offer greater flexibility – and potential
cost and time savings - for both delegates and their employers.
The end result from training was never considered as important
as is it today. Managers in 2009 are far clearer about what the
expected outcome from the training is – whether to learn a skill,
gain knowledge or increase motivation – and that there is in place
a mechanism to test or measure the extent to which the outcome
has been achieved. It is predicted that there will be a greater
obligation on training providers and business managers to assist in
this way by building in clearer measures of training outcomes.
Flexible learning
To meet the increasing demand for flexible training, the BSC
will be developing a range of e-learning health and safety
courses during 2009. And to help safety professionals on
limited budgets keep up to speed with the latest
developments, we will be running a full programme of free
seminars delivered by experts and leaders on major health and
safety issues and challenges at the Health and Safety '09
exhibitions taking place at Sandown Park on 24th and 25th
February and at the Reebok Stadium Bolton in October.
Neal Stone is head of policy and public affairs at the British
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