Does early employee training foster longevity at a firm?

There are a number of ways to attract and retain talented staff. Competitive salaries, good benefits packages and flexibility are all musts in today’s competitive jobs market. Developing employees has many advantages for firms and staff alike. From increased job satisfaction and loyalty to improved skills, better performance and greater retention rates, continued learning benefits everyone involved and the earlier it begins the better. Here we look at some of the benefits of early employee training.

1. Enhancing employee skills for long-term success

Regular training empowers employees to enhance their skills and perform their roles with greater proficiency. Whether it is professional development, industry knowledge or other essential workplace skills, ongoing learning allows teams to respond effectively in various situations.

Learning should be encouraged across all levels of a business and that should start as early as possible after an employee has been recruited.

A proactive approach boosts employee confidence and fosters a safer and more prepared working environment.

Industries constantly evolve and keeping your team informed is crucial to staying relevant. Regular learning opportunities help employees stay ahead of the curve, allowing them to quickly adapt to technological changes, regulations or market demands.

2. Increased employee performance

Organisations that invest time and money into professional development see a significant return on their investment. Research has shown that companies with an effective learning strategy are more than twice as likely to achieve their production goals.

It is vital that employees have access to learning and development to keep knowledge up to date, other skills or attributes lose their impact. The sooner the new employee is given the tools to succeed and immersed in the company’s culture the greater the chance they will make a positive long-term contribution.

3. It increases retention

Emphasising professional development sends a clear message that your company cares about its employees’ futures. Moreover, it considers those employees an important part of the company’s future as well. Continued professional development enables workers to see themselves in the company’s long-term vision and values. Loyalty grows out of this shared expectation of a mutually beneficial future — and loyal employees don’t leave.

4. An early start allows learning pathways to develop

Workplace training should be more than a collection of courses and knowledge base resources that exist independently. While workers can benefit from having access to task-focused training components that help them work efficiently and productively, they should also have individual learning pathways.

Learning pathways are curated and personalised training programmes for each worker. They should align with each worker’s current skills and career goals. There is no better time to start this process than at the beginning of someone’s employment.

Additionally, this approach to corporate training lends itself very well to self-directed learning. Workers can participate in creating their learning pathways, which gives them a sense of agency and motivation. Encourage them to communicate their goals and complete assessments that provide insights into their capabilities.

5. Alignment with organisational goals

When an organisation builds a training initiative and makes access to knowledge a priority, it communicates its values and priorities. Employees know that their employer values professional development and growth, remaining competitive and adapting well to change.

Find out more

Engaging workers in training programmes early in their employment is vital and offers many benefits.

Mercia’s Early Careers on-demand and interactive eLearning modules offer a fresh approach to training and are designed to be completed at the most appropriate time for your trainee’s role and experience.

We know that one size does not fit all and with a wide range of workshops you have the flexibility to create a tailored and blended learning programme for each member of your team.