We often see changes within the trades industry, such as new regulations, equipment and tools, and new practices. It can be difficult for a company to keep up with the industry and may result in a lack of skills among their staff – upskilling employees can prevent this.
Upskilling is when companies retrain their staff on existing skills, allowing them to be up to date with any changes and able to offer new services if required. Whether it is a skill the employee has previously been trained on that requires an update, or being trained on a brand new skill, investing in existing employees is a great way to bridge any skills gaps.
There are a range of benefits to upskilling employees, two of which being that it can save companies money and time. There are still costs involved when retraining as staff will undertake a training course to update skills or learn brand new ones. Whilst training courses do come with a cost, having existing skills within the industry can help keep costs down as not as much training will be required as it would be if a newcomer was being trained – existing knowledge is extremely helpful. Also, certain training providers, such as Technique Learning Solutions, offer discounts for group and company bookings, as well as tailored training to ensure you’re getting exactly what you require.
As well as upskilling being efficient in terms of money and time, it is also great for staff retention. Upskilling tells employees that the company is invested in their workforce, they care and want to expand their skills rather than just replacing them – this is great for morale. Providing workers with a wide range of skills also keeps up motivation. Retraining can also attract potential employees, people often seek a career within a company where they feel they will be valued, able to expand and move up within their occupation.
Of course, it is still important to hire new staff and give younger people a chance to enter the trades industry, and this is still possible and encouraged! Upskilling existing employees may lessen the amount of new staff required, however as companies grow and employees retire and move on, hiring and training apprentices and new employees also future proofs your company.
