Training of management and operatives is important to ensure that staff carry out their duties correctly and fulfil their potential by understanding their responsibilities within the team and the standards required. With good training confidence is promoted, job satisfaction increased, team spirit developed, performance improved and the amount of supervision required is reduced. Those companies that invest in the time and resources for training tend to reap the rewards of increased profitability.
Training and education is one of the most fundamental pillars of any successful business operation. A failure to train, educate and retrain employees will surely lead to poor practices and an inferior product being produced. Training is designed to increase, modify and develop knowledge, skills and attitude through learning experience and to ultimately achieve effective and efficient performance in an activity or range of activities.
The training of managers and supervisors is just as important, if not more, than the training of operatives as they have the largest influence over how cultures, skills and attitudes develop. It is very difficult to break a negative culture on a site if management do not enforce and show correct practices to follow. Leading by example is crucial.
A common misconception throughout the business is the belief that “all training and education always takes place in the classroom” and once an employee has attended and passed the relevant & required training programmes then they are ready to become a competent operative.
Although training and education in the “classroom” is vital to give the employee the necessary underpinning knowledge for their role, training should not end there. The practical aspect of their training and development is critical in ensuring that they attain the correct level of competence. Foster and Kaferstein stated in 1985 “human beings are not empty vessels into which correct information can be poured, thereby eliminating undesirable actions”
Training Methods
A number of training methods are available to enhance theoretical and practical knowledge.
Theoretical training typically can involve: classroom activities, lectures, seminars, workshops, meetings/discussions, case studies, e-learning, research and or revision.
Practical training typically can involve: instruction, coaching (supervision), practice.
All methods have their place and benefits but each needs to be targeted correctly at employees. For example, it would probably be of little benefit to target hygiene operatives with workshops if a language or literacy barrier exists. More benefit can be gained from delivering practical training in the form of coaching.
Competence
It is becoming necessary to not only prove that training has taken place for a member of staff but that their competence has assessed as sufficient for their required role.
Holchem Training has developed a suite of training programmes to meet the needs of the operatives, supervisors and managers in the different business sectors supplied.