The Perfect Time to Create an Employee Training Plan Is Right Now! 

I know we’ve all just caught our breath from a busy first few months of the year, but don’t put your feet up just yet. Now’s the time to look ahead and create a training plan that will make 2025 unforgettable. 

The right employee training plan can unlock your team’s full potential and drive even greater success for your organization. It improves employee performance and engagement and helps employees work at their best.  

In this article, we’ll talk about why NOW is the best time to start your training plan and how you can build a strong learning and development strategy for your team. 

We’ll discuss: 

• Why You Should Start Planning Your Employee Training Program Now 
• Public Sector Organizations: Start Strong in the New Fiscal Year
• Leverage Extra Help from Summer Staff to Create an Effective Employee Training Program 
• Get Ahead and Develop a Training Plan for Employees Before Vacation Season Kicks In 
• Be Ready to Hit the Ground Running on Staff Training and Development in September 
• How to Create an Employee Training Plan 
• Let’s Build Your GREAT Training Strategy Together 

Why You Should Start Planning Your Employee Training Program Now 

Too often, training gets pushed down the list and reserved for new employees or is used to react to a crisis. But here’s the thing: by the time you realize the need for training, it may be too late to make a meaningful impact. 

So, why wait? The time to create your training plan is NOW. With the months ahead, there’s a perfect window to get your strategy in place. Let’s explore why planning your employee training now will benefit both your team and your business. 

Public Sector Organizations: Start Strong in the New Fiscal Year 

The start of a new fiscal year is an exciting time for government organizations—budgets are fresh, priorities are being set, and there’s a lot of momentum. But with so much in flux right now, it can be hard to know where to focus. You don’t want to create an employee development plan that will not reflect the current direction.  

That’s why you should focus your training development plan on skills that will always be in demand, like data-driven decision-making and clear communication/business writing. These core skills will help your team stay aligned and make smart decisions, no matter how priorities shift. 

By planning your training now, you’re setting your team up with the tools they need to stay adaptable and practical. That way, when things get busy, you won’t be scrambling to catch up, and your team will be ready to handle whatever challenges come their way. Starting early means you can focus on building skills that will help drive progress all year. 

Leverage Extra Help from Summer Staff to Create an Effective Employee Training Program 

Put your seasonal staff to work! Let them handle tasks like researching training providers or organizing materials so your full-time team can dive into their development without missing a beat. It’s a win for the business, a win for your team’s growth, and a win for productivity! 

Get Ahead and Develop a Training Plan for Employees Before Vacation Season Kicks In 

Don’t let summer sneak up on you! Gather input and set goals NOW, before vacation mode kicks in. Get your strategy locked in so that when the team returns, you’re ready to hit the ground running with a training plan already in motion. 

Be Ready to Hit the Ground Running on Staff Training and Development in September 

September is your time to shine! Get ahead of the game and have your training plan ready to roll. Don’t waste time scrambling—set your team up for success in Q4 with a rock-solid plan that’s ready to go. 

How to Create an Employee Training Plan  

A successful training plan can do wonders for your team. Notice we said a training plan. What is a training plan? It’s a strategic program of continuous learning designed to help your team reach its full potential.   

The benefits of creating that kind of plan are well-documented and varied. From improving employee retention to boosting productivity, a well-designed training plan helps your team grow, makes more efficient workplaces, and contributes to a stronger bottom line. So, the next question that arises is, “How can you build an effective employee training plan?” 

Step 1: Identify Skill Gaps  

Before developing a training program, you should know where your team needs to improve. Take the time to assess your employees’ current skill levels and identify any gaps.  

Look at the big picture. Ask yourself: What are the specific areas where your team could improve to increase performance? Are there any new skills or technologies they need to learn to stay competitive? Is there training you need to take to comply with government requirements (such as accessibility legislation)?  

By identifying skill gaps early, you ensure that your training content addresses your team’s most pressing needs and gives them the tools they need to succeed. 

Step 2: Set Clear Training Goals 

You’ve identified the areas for improvement. Now it’s time to create the “after” picture. What do you want your training to do for your team over the next year?  

Set clear, measurable training goals. Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, and aligned with your business objectives. Setting clear goals ensures that your training program is results-driven and gives you measurable outcomes to demonstrate your training’s ROI.  

With tangible results in hand, you can confidently justify future training and secure ongoing support from your leadership team. 

Step 3: Choose Between Different Types of Employee Training Programs  

Not all training is created equal, so you’ll want to determine what kind of program will best meet your training objectives. For example, The Great Canadian Training & Consulting Company offers public courses that might be the right option for an individual employee.  

We also offer private training, where you can customize the training objectives or include your files as the exercises to better suit your team. Finally, we provide personalized webinars. This training method is less hands-on than our other training options but is excellent for adding to a lunch-and-learn program or if you want to introduce a concept or program to your team.  

(For more information about the type of training we offer, read this article!) 

Step 4: Schedule Your Training Courses  

Training sessions are most effective when scheduled during periods of lighter workload. Employees may resent being registered for training during peak times when they are already overwhelmed with tasks.  

Instead, look for windows of time where your team can engage in training without feeling stressed or distracted. The result? Focused training that your staff will use in their day-to-day roles. 

Step 5: Measure Your Team’s Success 

The final step in creating an effective training program is to measure its success. Remember those goals we talked about in Step 2? At this point, you will look back at those goals and compare them to how well participants apply what they have learned.  

Use feedback, performance data, and other metrics to evaluate the impact of the training on employee performance. 

Let’s Build Your GREAT Training Strategy Together 

Not sure where to start? That’s why we offer a FREE Training Strategy Session. It helps you design a custom plan that works for your team. Whether you’re looking to assess training needs, explore solutions, or get customized training outlines, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. 

Book your session today and take the first step toward building a stronger, more skilled workforce. It’s completely free, and there is no obligation. In fact, if you want to compare training providers, we’ll help you ask the right questions. 

Don’t wait! Let’s create a training plan that sets your team up for success in the months ahead. Book your session today!