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| Home »» Corporate Training »» Corporate Training In Northern Ireland |
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| Corporate Training in Northern Ireland |
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Corporate training is concerned with lifelong learning and career development. It is now a business necessity that provides benefits to both the company and the employee. As the Northern Irish economy evolves along a more information based model it is vital that employees and companies keep their skillsets and knowledge pools up to date. Investment in corporate training, for both individuals and organisations, is the key to ensuring that everyone can meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century business environment.
Corporate training is an integral component of the human resources planning for many businesses and organisations. With the right training employees gain new skills and qualifications as well as opportunities for career advancement, while companies reap the benefits in terms of a more efficient, productive and loyal workforce. Employee retention improves, as employees are more likely to remain with a company that values their input and development, while recruitment becomes easier as candidates are drawn towards companies that actively foster a learning environment.
Corporate training is a growing sector in Northern Ireland. As companies and individuals have realised the importance of lifelong learning, a large number of course providers of all shapes and sizes have sprung up to meet the demand. There is a huge variety of corporate training course options available in Northern Ireland ranging from government sanctioned schemes to large corporate training companies to individual consultants and trainers who work on a case by case basis.
The Courses
Today’s corporate training programmes are a far cry from the basic teacher and pupil set up of yesterday. Technology has had a major impact on corporate training practices and course delivery – with audio-visual presentations, online courses and email feedback all now key elements of many courses. Interactivity is also a feature of modern corporate training – with individual attention, group activities and feedback opportunities increasingly adding to the learning experience.
The range of subjects and topics available in the Northern Ireland corporate training sector is quite formidable. Information technology, management development, health and safety, communications skills and technical skills are all traditionally common areas for businesses to consider corporate training solutions. All levels of experience and previous training are catered for – with courses ranging from basic introductions to regular top-up bites that consolidate and build upon learning already done in the past.
Two areas which are particularly popular in recent years are executive coaching – where a trainer or coach works with a senior employee on a one to one basis to hone and develop already existing managerial skills – and intercultural communication or skills – which enable employees and managers to deal properly with the tricky situations and conflicts which are an inevitable factor of today’s fast changing and multi-cultural business environment.
Professional development is also particularly important in the modern environment. Professional bodies and organisations of all types – whether accountants, solicitors, marketing professionals, architects, teachers etc etc – all offer professional development courses which enable their members to keep abreast of the latest practices and developments in their career area. Career advancement in a competitive market can often depend on these add-on elements that can make a CV stand out from the crowd.
Funding and Development Initiatives
There are a variety of funding options available to meet the costs of different corporate training options. Many government schemes exist to help both individuals and companies gain skills that ensure Northern Ireland business remains competitive. Some larger companies also have extensive employee development programmes in place that offer structured opportunities to staff members to enhance their career prospects and gain new skills and qualifications. Other individuals decide to take a corporate training course independently to position themselves for a new position or promotion, or sometimes to change career track completely.
The Department of Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland (www.delni.gov.uk) are very committed to enabling individuals and businesses to develop through corporate training. There are a number of schemes and initiatives including the Essential Skills, Jobskills, Pathways to Work, New Deal and Management and Leadership Development programmes which all aim to enable and support learners, course providers and employers. European initiatives such as Building Sustainable Prosperity and EQUAL are also of benefit to individuals and companies alike.
The Learning and Skills Development Agency Northern Ireland (www.lsda.org.uk/ni/) is a government body with responsibility for corporate training in Northern Ireland. The LSDA work closely with further education colleges, training and skills providers, local industry and business and community education providers across all elements of Northern Irish society. Their aim is to build and maintain programmes and activities that support professional development, curriculum and research across the corporate training sector in Northern Ireland. |
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