What to look for when choosing a construction training provider…

Selecting the right training to support individual and organisational development is crucial.  But with a wealth of training providers available, how do you go about navigating who is the right fit for you?

Let’s explore this further….

Define what your business needs are?

The first question to ask is always, what are you aiming for?  What is the vision and organisational strategy of your business?  Once you are clear on the vision for the business or your own individual development plan, consider what training plan is needed to help achieve this.

This way, you can select a training provider to meet your specific requirements and one that aligns with your goals.

The elephant in the room will always be finances.  There is no escaping it, cost will always be an important consideration, but it is important to remember that cheapest is not always best.  Does your training provider align with the values of your organisation and allow you to deliver on these aims?

The cost of a course can be recouped as enhanced qualifications can lead to better job opportunities and higher salaries. Here’s how investing in training can pay off:

• Increase Earning Potential - Many careers offer high salaries for individuals with specialised skills. By taking a course, employees can qualify for these better-paying roles which helps recover investment in training. 

• Improve Job Security - With the right qualifications, employees are more likely to stay competitive in the job market, being better trained can make workers more valuable to their current employers or more attractive to potential employers. 

• Networking Opportunities - Many courses offer opportunities to meet industry professionals, which could lead to better job offers or business ventures. This networking can be a valuable source of higher-paying job opportunities or career advancements.

Consider and understand why you need to invest in training?

Consider, why do you want to invest in training?  The organisational gains where staff are supported to develop their knowledge and skills are well documented in research.  Well trained staff drive up quality and standards as well as keep people safe in the workplace.  Staff who feel valued and invested in are often more productive in the workplace and more likely to remain with an organisation where they have opportunities to develop. https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/training-competence.htm

Investment in staff training sets the tone of the organisation and ensures everyone is working towards a set of shared common goals.

Consider and understand why you need to invest in training?

Verify who the trainers are

Trainers need to be appropriately qualified and experienced in the area of delivery – this will help to ensure quality of content and delivery while maximising learning opportunities offered to delegates.  Again, once you know what your needs are – ensure the training provider is able to deliver on this – do they have the required accreditations to provide regulated courses that fit the needs of your service delivery? Here at Haswell Training Ltd we are registered with a range of accreditations including:

• CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) a government-recognised organisation in the UK that supports the construction industry by providing training and certification courses to improve the skills and safety of workers in the sector through funding, grants and qualifications. https://www.citb.co.uk/levy-grants-and-funding/grants-and-funding/

• Qualsafe an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual in the UK specialising in providing accredited qualifications in various sectors, including health and safety, first aid and emergency response. https://www.qualsafe.org/

• NPORS (National Plant Operators Registration Scheme) is an organisation in the UK that provides certification and training for plant operators who operate heavy machinery such as cranes, diggers and forklifts and other related roles in the construction and plant sectors. As a NPORS registered company we are approved to deliver training for various plant operator certifications.https://npors.com/

Find out what training schedules the provider can offer you:

When does the training need to be delivered to fit with your training plan?  Does the organisation have fixed training dates and do these work for you?  Do they have flexibility to work the “when” around you?

Consider the location of your Training provider:

Does the training provider offer flexibility of location?  Depending on the training you require,  location and the individuals who need to attend, would classroom based or online learning suit best?  Or maybe delivery onsite is required.  Explore if the training provider is responsive to your needs.

The training environment is crucial – a positive, friendly and welcoming facility can make a wealth of difference to the learning environment. A smaller training environment can be particularly beneficial for training courses for many reasons: 

• More Focused Attention - With fewer participants, trainers can provide a more individual attention to each learner. This allows for more personalised feedback, more opportunities for quotations and tailored support ensuring that each participant's needs are met.

• Better Interaction - In a smaller group, learners are more likely to interact directly with the trainer, which can increase engagement that the trainer can address specific issues or concerns in real time. 

• Improve Communication - Smaller groups encourage more open communication as people feel less intimidated about speaking up in front of a larger crowd. 

• Stronger Instructor-Student Relationships - A smaller group allows for a closer connection between the instructor and participants, fostering a mentorship-like relationship. Trainers can better understand the learning needs of the individuals and provide career or personal development advice.

A smaller training environment is crucial for creating an effective and engaging learning experience as seen from our feedback: Facebook

Understanding how the training is delivered? 

How is the content delivered to ensure it meets the individual needs of all delegates?  Some delegates may require additional support and/or reasonable adjustments to maximise their learning.  It will be important to ensure the training provider has processes in place to support your employees at all levels of training and confidence.  No one should feel like training is out of their reach.

Why should Haswell Training be your training provider of choice?

Experienced Trainers

All of our trainers at Haswell have the relevant teaching qualifications and experience but also the vocational knowledge and experience – being able to draw on real life experiences to enrich the learning experience.  For example, our CITB temporary works courses https://www.haswelltraining.co.uk/classroom-courses are delivered by a trainer with 45+ years’ experience in the sector and our mental health courses are delivered by registered healthcare professionals with 14+ years’ experience.

“Brilliant trainer! Made the course more comprehensible with real life examples.”

“I feel privileged to have attended a course delivered by such a revered and exceptionally knowledgeable tutor.”

Friendly Team

Consistently we receive feedback from our delegates about the friendly and welcoming environment we have at our training centre.  This is also evidenced by the delegates who return time and time again to complete multiple different courses with us.

“Brilliant atmosphere, staff very helpful.”

Supportive Approach 

Our staff pride ourselves on creating a learning environment that is supportive of all learning needs.  We believe that no one should feel like training and development is out of their reach and as such we always work with our delegates to tailor our content and assessment to fit their learning style.

“She presented the content in a very calm manner and considered every learner, listening to all contributions and made us feel valued.”

“…made learners feel very comfortable when discussing such difficult topics. She explained things very well and answered questions brilliantly, ensuring everyone was happy before moving on.”

Flexibility

We offer a whole host of flexible options:

• Location – at our fully equipped training centres (classroom and land based for plant training), online or on-site/at your office.

• Timing – we have many set dates for training delivery throughout the year but also have flexibility to arrange bespoke courses for your team set with the timeframe you require.

Accreditations

As well as offering a suite of in-house training courses, we are also a:

• CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO) delivering Site Safety Plus (SSP) courses

• Qualsafe Approved Centre

• NPORS Training Provider

Get in contact to see how we can help you with your training needs https://www.haswelltraining.co.uk/contact