The seven factors to consider before making your decision.
With so many training providers available for your team’s operator courses, it is important that a number of factors are taken into account before making a decision. The vast range of training providers offer their courses under various accreditations. These may be national training providers, private companies, or independent training centres.
In this blog, we summarise the seven factors that you should consider when looking for a new training partner or if you are looking to move from your current supplier. The training provider you choose will determine the customer service and quality of training you receive.
Initial Contact
When you first speak with a training provider, take the opportunity to ask plenty of questions. Any credible training coordinator should take time to understand your needs and recommend suitable options. They should also be looking to understand how your training records are currently administered, so they can help to take away the headache of managing multiple candidates, courses, and renewal dates.
Accreditations
Your company’s primary activity and the sectors that you work within will determine which accreditation would be best suited to you. Some of our customers require a nationally recognised training qualification to meet the standards needed for working on large sites or client premises. However, others may only need the training itself without the attached auditing body, making an in-house certificate a more cost-effective option by avoiding additional accreditation fees. A good training coordinator can guide you in choosing the solution that best fits your specific needs.
Flexibility
Consider where and how you would like the training to be delivered. If you don’t have the facilities within your business for the training to be conducted at your premises, a good training provider should be able to offer training at their location. You may have a preferred method of training, i.e., face-to-face, online or distance, so it’s important to see what training providers can offer or if the service can be adjusted to suit your needs. If you can, be flexible with the dates of your training, and a provider should be too.
Course Content
Training should be up to date and relevant to your industry. Providers should be able to supply course outlines, learning objectives, and assessment requirements at the enquiry stage as well as practical information such as pricing, availability, maximum number of candidates etc. This helps ensure the training meets your expectations and business requirements as well as your budget.
Reviews
Take the time to read reviews, testimonials, and case studies on the training providers’ websites which can give valuable insight into how other candidates found their training. Always try to check sources such as Google reviews, company websites, and social media.
Recommendations
It’s always a good idea to ask your training provider for a couple of reference clients, who you could contact to better understand their experience. These types of recommendations are particularly valuable, especially in industries like construction. Utilise your network, speak to colleagues or industry contacts and consider feedback from your team who may have previously attended training.
Cost
It’s always important to balance cost and quality. Pricing not only reflects the depth and duration of training but also the experience of the instructor plus the overall quality of the training experience. Speak to more than one supplier and gather a good number of quotes or proposals to help make your decision.
Summary
We have outlined seven key considerations when looking to choose the best operator training supplier. Not one factor is likely to be enough to totally base your decision on, so it’s best to balance a number of these factors. It is, of course, natural to be influenced by the cost of the training, but as part of this, looking at factors such as quality of training, reviews, recommendations, availability, and the initial impression you receive when you make your enquiry are also valuable.
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Aurelia Training
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