Keeping training expenses to a minimum can be a challenge. Here are some tips to ensure that training is delivered on budget.
There are many ways to keep training costs down. Utilizing one or more than one of these methods can greatly reduce a training budget.
Utilize Existing Training
Reinventing the wheel can not only be costly in time but also in dollars. There are many great books on training that offer workshop outline and activity ideas that can be adapted and included in training programs. Purchasing a small library of books for the training designer that offer packaged ideas can save time, energy and money. Also, create a company wide policy of storing training presentations and materials in one place such as a company training library (online on an intranet web site and/or hard file copies). Designate one or two people as the resource librarians. Often different departments create training around the same topic because they are unaware of previous efforts by other departments.
Hire a Trainer on Contract
If you have many training programs to develop, an outsourced training company’s charges can be a real shock to a small budget. Instead, consider hiring a trainer on a short term contract and give them access to existing materials and the personnel that will be the audience (or the supervisors of the audience) so that they can customize the training to company culture, values and logistics.
Choose a Location that is Central
If you are planning a conference or a series of workshops that participants must travel to, choose your location carefully. Look for a city that is a hub for air travel but is not known for high priced hotel rooms i.e. Cincinnati over New York or Regina over Toronto. Also, if your numbers are small, boutique hotels may offer fabulous service and lower room rates to attract your business to their site over you choosing the larger hotels they compete with.
Use Online or Distance Learning Techniques
Online learning can greatly reduce a training travel expenses for both trainers and participants. Sometimes the initial outlay to develop an online course can be high but if the training is to be offered repeatedly, the training cost savings over time can make up for an initial outlay. Alternatively, if it is a small group that needs to be trained, creating a PowerPoint presentation and then utilizing a software sharing program such as NetMeeting or WebEx can be a simple way to deliver training to an audience that is spread out over the country.
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