How to Choose a Training Supplier

For quick access to the areas of interest in this section click on the following heading(s).

How to have a successful training experience.

Get to the specifics quickly.

Does the trainer have the expertise?

Have the potential trainer provide samples of products.

What is required to evaluate training?

Ask for references and experience.

Negotiate.

Be clear on your training needs.

Do the training providers know your business?

Other issues that you should consider.

How To Have A Successful Training Experience

There is no single guide that is going to provide you all the answers on how to select the most appropriate training provider for your company. There are many different scenarios to consider with training delivery: 

• Whether it should be classroom or technology based or a blended solution combining both approaches,
• Do you develop the training program internally or do you buy off-the-shelf materials?
• Do you deliver the training internally or do you send staff to an outside training centre?

The options are endless.

One thing you probably know is the problem. For example, your staff needs to develop good time management skills. You are planning to introduce a new processing system and your staff need skills upgrading to operate the new equipment. What do you do? All these issues need to be addressed. The possible solutions are endless and there are so many consultants out there it seems almost impossible to find the right person to fit your needs. The Industry Canada training supplier database is an excellent source of training providers and contains over a 1 000 suppliers to choose from. But you still need to choose the best supplier and/or developer for your organisation.

You want your training experience to be successful. The more you do up front to ensure all the necessary issues and questions have been addressed to your satisfaction, the better chance you have of implementing a successful training program. Your staff will appreciate it. This process can be difficult. However an experienced training provider or developer should have no trouble with the following questions.

Here are some basic questions you should be asking of training providers or developers.

Get to the specifics quickly

• To help organize your training needs, you may wish to use this Checklist for Developing a Training Program. With this under your belt, should be much better prepared to find the ideal consultant.
• Ask the consultant to describe to you the training and what are the expected outcomes.
• Find out what your staff will learn from the training program and how will it help them do their jobs.
• These questions are direct and responses should be specific. Ask them how the training is delivered — lecture, classroom, CD-ROM exercises etc.

Does the trainer have the expertise?

Ask about prior work that the trainer has done in the training area you are interested in implementing, such as, time management for example.

Have the potential trainer provide samples of products

• The trainer you are interested in hiring should be able to provide material and good samples of work they have done.
• You should be presented with material for the facilitator or leader and material for the participants.
• Ask how the material will be modified to fit your specific situation.
• Ask the training provider if the material is up-to-date with current technology, if this is an issue.
• Also ask what costs you may incur if the material requires considerable customization.

What is required to evaluate training?

You will probably want to evaluate the training beyond just an initial reaction to the training session after the training has been delivered.

• Ask the training provider if there is an evaluation process to determine if what has been learned is having an impact.
• Is there a plan for assessing whether learning has had a positive effect?
• Is there a need to reinforce the learning?
• You may be in a situation where someone may want to ask questions after the session is over. What process should be put in place so that staff can have follow-up support? Will there be mentoring meetings with previous participants to promote ongoing, continuous learning?
• You may want to establish a contingency plan. Your staff may need to take a refresher course in order to fully absorb the material.

Ask for references and experience

Ask for experience in the business and experience with the training that you are interested in purchasing or developing. Do not just ask for three references but ask for these to be supplied from work done in the past 6 to 12 months.

Negotiate

If you have a lot of people to train do not be afraid to negotiate. Volume should be a factor in the overall price.

Be clear on your training needs

Try to be as clear as possible on what training or skills you need. This is particularly important for computer related training.

Do the training providers know your business?

Make sure the training providers know your business or industry and have worked with similar organisations of your size. Test them out on basic knowledge of your industry and business. Do not assume anything.

Other issues that you should consider

If you are looking at off-site versus on site training, what are the cost implications? You may want to ask if there are any learning technology aids such as CD-ROMs that will provide learning support especially for tutorials and pre course exercises and preparation. This often can save valuable class time and improve learning outcomes.

Other organisations have already come up with Best Practices with regards to training. Why not gain from their experience? Have a look at The Canadian Academy of Engineering's Best Practices for Small-and Medium-size Enterprises.

Go directly to the database of training suppliers