Inductions for new staff – recommended training courses

Training new staff is crucial to the success of any business, since it equips them with the right knowledge and skills to work effectively as quickly as possible. This not only leads to enhanced productivity and efficiency but greater job satisfaction, which will ultimately help you grow and retain your best talent. And so you maximise motivation and morale, as well as your competitive edge, while minimising the expense and hassle of a high staff turnover.

You will also encourage interest and attract talented staff by highlighting the training you offer at interview stage.

Good training ensures employees understand and comply with all relevant processes, standards and regulations, and produce better work with fewer faults and a higher output. Staff will also gain a better appreciation of their role and responsibilities and how these fit in with the wider organisation, again improving performance while increasing clarity and reducing confusion.

Equally, great training from the outset helps establish a strong company culture by reinforcing the business’s values. It also assists HR teams in setting clearer and more specific expectations from day one, while reinforcing the importance of meeting targets. 

Finally, of course, in some industries, training from the beginning of someone’s employment is vital to ensure full safety and compliance. You can fins out more about Why Cutting Corners on Training Could Cost You More in the Long Run in our latest blog.

What should training be like for new starts?

Assess what training your new hire is likely to need at their induction, or earlier if possible. Training for fresh recruits should:

• Be targeted and relevant while focusing on the core competencies new hires will require in their role – existing employees may well have the best insight on what new staff members should know.
• Combine different training methods: There are various options including online, instructor-led and on-the-job training, as well as mentoring, peer learning and so on. If you can, give new hires a couple of options and ask what works best for them.
• Be regularly assessed and monitored: Exchange feedback with new employees both ways, and measure how effective their training is. Look at things like new staff turnover, training completion and uptake rates, new hire satisfaction and how long it takes after the course to get the team member performing at the level at which you want them to function.
• Chose the right training provider for your desired or required courses.

Finally, don’t forget continuous development. New starter courses should just be the beginning of an ongoing schedule of training and progression throughout someone’s time with your organisation. And, in summary, training new employees effectively and in a structured way should be at the heart of your onboarding processes, rather than an afterthought.

New hire training from Pragmatic Consulting

Pragmatic Consulting is a training provider specialising in the vital utilities and energy industries. We offer a wide range of training courses which could be suitable for new hires, as well as continuous and refresher programmes of learning.

To give fresh recruits a general overview of certain areas, learn more about our CITB Site Environmental Awareness training and Health and Safety Awareness programme. Meanwhile, our half-day asbestos awareness session is Energy & Utility Skills Register (EUSR)-endorsed.

Our Thames Water passport programme is a compulsory half-day course for those who work on Thames Water sites, and may suit those who have recently joined your organisation.

Equally, check out our more specific utility and construction courses, covering areas from overhead lines to COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health). These courses can be very useful in filling in new hires’ skills gaps.

For those who are in roles that involve training or professional development, they might want to consider City & Guilds 6318-03 Level 3 Certificate in learning and development.

View our full range of courses. And if you have a question or want to book a course for six or more new recruits, call 01926 674340 or email support@pragmatic-consulting.co.uk

Further reading: 
Bridging the Skills Gap: A Critical Challenge for UK Construction and Utilities Industries 
Industry Insight: Skills Shortages & Training Solutions
How Trained Staff Reduce Downtime and Improve Job Site Efficiency

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