Smart Buyer: training

Welcome to the Smart Buyer guide on training. Here we look at what to consider when buying training in general, regardless of the type of training you require.

Related sections then address e-learning, a popular method of delivering training, and then  training in four specific areas: IT, sales, leadership and management. 

Training

This Smart Buyer guide details and examines the elements and actions required to procure effective and appropriate training, learning and development for your organisation.

Training overview
We look in detail at major training topics, such as e-learning, and at the general issues that affect all purchasing decisions.

Four step guide to planning your training, learning and development
We break the training planning process down in to its four main stages, and advise on how best to implement it.

Supplier selection
Difficulties can occur when choosing new providers – you need to know your organisation’s precise needs, and how to communicate them to potential suppliers.

Payment, ownership and major UK suppliers
Different payment models can make a big difference to overall costs.

How to get staff buy-in for training
The best planned training programme will be worthless without staff buy-in – we highlight eight essential points to follow.

How to tell if training was effective and well delivered
Seven ways to tell if training was effective and well delivered

Face-to-face or e-learning?
If your organisation has an e-learning infrastructure you should consider if you want to deliver training online, face-to-face or a blend of both.

Getting performance management to work for you (VIDEO)
Jeremy Francis of the Rhema Group discusses how performance management can go wrong and what can be done about it.

Managing people’s performance – fact or fiction?
Managing people’s performance is key to every manager’s success. It is often the cause of their failure. Why?

How to build high performance teams
What separates today’s winning organisations from the merely adequate ones?

Are you recruiting the right people?
80% of staff turnover is due to mistakes made in the recruitment process. Team Dynamics explain what these mistakes are and how to avoid them. 

Developing inspirational leaders
Leaders are facing increasingly tough challenges. Team Dynamics explore the skillls needed to survive and succeed.

Enabling employee engagement
An essential guide to ensure you are engaging with your staff in the most effective way

Inspirational leaders
The five fundamental practices that enable leaders of becomeInspirational Leaders and achieve extraordinary results.

Case study: Working Sm@rt at Pepsi QTG
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Pepsi’s QTG division is a global leader in liquid refreshment, breakfast, and wholesome snacking products.

Team performance coaching inspires managers at Habib Bank AG Zurich
Reed Learning has been providing a series of tailored in-house training programmes for senior management at Habib Bank AG Zurich. The courses were for highly experienced and able senior managers, and we set out to challenge them.

PRINCE2™ qualification gives project managers at Hyder the tools to win new business
Reed Learning has been designing and delivering training for Hyder Consulting since May 2006, from introductory management courses for new graduates to PRINCE2™ programmes for project teams to advanced negotiation sessions for senior management.

E-learning

E-learning is now used by over 60% of UK employers, but implementation can be a complex undertaking, especially if it is to be organisation-wide.

• E-learning overview
• Reasons to implement e-learning
• Supplier selection
• Training content
• Mobile training
• Case study: Online training creation for professional bodies
• A new perspective on e-learning: online learning that works

Leadership training

• Overview
• Supplier selection
• Selecting delegates
• Course content

Find out more about the Leadership Training Smart Buyer guide

Management training

• Overview
• Supplier selection
• The course – delegates and content
• The cost
• A question of evidence: behaviour-based interviews (VIDEO)
• Making appraisals work

Find out more about the Management Training Smart Buyer guide

Sales training

• Overview
• Types of sales training
• Supplier selection
• The cost
• Ensuring training success

Find out more about the Sales Training Smart Buyer guide

IT training

• Overview
• Supplier selection
• Potential e-learning issues
• John Lewis case study
• The cost

Find out more about the IT Training Smart Buyer guide