There are those who say that we are living in the Learning Age, whose main characteristic is the culture of learning. What differentiates people is not the knowledge itself, but how each individual appropriates that knowledge in dynamic learning processes. In-company courses can help a lot in this scenario.
In the business environment, this phenomenon is greater than ever: according to the Panorama of Training in Brazil 2016, produced by the Brazilian Training and Development Association (ABTD), 2016 registered an increase of 24% in relation to 2015 in the corporate investment in training and development of employees.
This figure is even more surprising when we take into account the 2016 economic crisis, which caused many businesses to reduce their spending to the maximum.
One way to develop employees is through in-company courses, which have been increasingly requested by companies.
In this article, we will go deeper into this modality and understand why implementing it in your enterprise can bring several benefits.
Check it out below!
What will you read in this article?
- What are in-company courses?
- Advantages of adopting in-company courses
- More advantages and in-company course options
- Customization according to your needs
- Increased employee satisfaction
- Various formats
- Cost reduction
What are in-company courses?
In-company courses are training and qualifications produced in a personalized way by an expert with the aim of meeting a pre-identified demand and obtaining better production and delivery results.
They can be done in person or through Distance Learning, which is also growing in popularity. What matters is that it must be developed for a specific company, taking into account its needs in the short, medium and long term.
But for the in company course to work, and to attack the crucial points for the development of the company, it is necessary that the Training Needs Survey (LNT) be done first.
It is the process conducted by the Human Resources area or by professionals specialized in Training & Development (T&D) that maps out the difficulties, points to be developed and opportunities for growth in the corporation.
The LNT will provide the necessary guidelines for the in-company course to be as effective as possible. Through questionnaires and interviews with managers and employees, it is possible to have an overview and gain valuable insights into productivity, specific and chronic problems that affect the daily lives of the teams and whether the employees themselves have ideas for improving the situation.
After this survey is done, managers and HR must meet to organize which course should be taken. To do this, you need to answer questions related to:
- Cost : What is the approved value for this training? The smaller the budget, the more accurate the decisions must be, such as the number of employees involved, the format of the course (distance learning is usually cheaper than face-to-face), and which problems are a priority to be solved.
- Target Audience: After the Training Needs Assessment, a mapping of the issues to be addressed and who will be the people involved in these training sessions should be made. Knowing the target audienceis one of the most important steps when planning a course, as the language and topics covered vary according to the level of the positions. Junior employees need more technical knowledge than seniors and managers, for example.
- Objective: What does your company want with that course: Increase productivity? Update your staff in the main market trends or deepen your knowledge in a specific tool? With this purpose in mind, the contracted specialist will be able to set up the course in a more targeted manner, keeping in mind the company’s objective with that training. Without a well-defined scope, the course will be very broad and will not bring the expected results.
Advantages of adopting in-company courses
To understand the importance of this modality, it is first necessary to understand the concept of human capital . It is the set of skills and knowledge of employees to carry out their work in a way that produces economic value for the company.
This definition emerged in the middle of the 18th century, and was one of the results of the discussion about how human factors influence the company’s results. The debate led to the conclusion that the more the company values its human capital, the greater the chances of it obtaining great results in its day to day.
And what does this have to do with in-company courses? It is generally agreed that human capital is classified as one of the main attractions of organizations, and its development must be part of the strategic planning of any company that intends to be successful.
Up-to-date and competent teams that talk to the needs of their customers, and of the market in general, deliver better results, increasing the level of customer satisfaction and attracting prospects with greater chances of closing deals.
More advantages and in-company course options
Customization according to your needs
The Learning Age makes many employees look for courses to meet professional needs. It may be knowledge that the market requires, updating tools that are widely used in the business and so on.
When they go after these skills alone, the company benefits, but not as much as it would be if it took its courses. That’s because the company knows what it needs, understands what the needs of its employees are and can customize the content to be of benefit to both.
In-company courses serve to resolve issues that deserve attention and here there are no rules. Together with the experts, a grid is set up to achieve the results in a timely manner.
Increased employee satisfaction
We understand that human capital is a crucial factor for a company’s good performance. That way, if employees are not satisfied, they will produce less. Or even leaving the company, increasing turnover rates – which are a negative indicator for the company.
The application of in-company courses in the reality of your corporation aligns employees with the corporate culture and promotes interpersonal relationships – two of the great challenges of people management.
In the midst of day-to-day tasks, employees are not always able to interact with each other. The courses, in addition to training workers, make them closer, albeit virtually.
This creates bonds that are very beneficial for the company, because it brings together areas, stimulates the exchange of knowledge and makes people feel better seen inside the office.
Various formats
As already mentioned, the in-company course is customized. This does not just mean that it follows what the company needs: it can also be customized in its format, and thus serve more people.
In large companies with offices located in several cities, it is very complicated to do personal training: it involves travel and accommodation and food costs for the contracted specialist. That is why courses can be taken remotely, reaching more people for less investment.
We know that the Distance Learning market is a phenomenon worldwide. In Brazil alone, this segment is expected to grow 21% per year. The advantages of this format are many, starting with practicality.
With the increasing access to the internet, your collaborator can access the contents of the cell phone or the computer. This also optimizes time , as it does not interfere with the work routine and does not occupy the free time of the professionals involved. They can access the material whenever and wherever they want.
Cost reduction
The customization of the courses makes it possible for companies to create specific content grids, involving a greater number of professionals and establish schedules that do not hinder the organization’s general functioning.
There are those who believe that this method spends more money, but it is not true: in the case of face-to-face training, training is carried out within the company, and therefore there is no expense in renting space and transportation.
That is why it is so important to assess the need for training before planning the in-company course.
Good planning and execution results in investment optimization, significantly reducing the costs of corporate education. This savings can be 30 to 40%, and this is another reason to do everything well organized, thinking about the needs of the company precisely.
So, has your company taken any in-company courses? These trainings help motivate employees and improve company delivery.
This is just one of the many advantages that your company can have, so keep following our articles and subscribe to our newsletter to learn more.
