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    1. Overview

    This guide outlines the points you should consider when deciding how best to develop and train your employees in India. It includes information about the benefits to your business of investing in skills and also covers:

    - assessing your training needs

    - finding a training provider

    - choosing the right type of training

    - the different methods of training

    - evaluating your training

    2. Why Train Your People?

    Effectively training your employees can improve your chances of success and business growth in India. Developing your people and improving their skills can:

    - increase their productivity and quality of work

    - increase overall profits

    - improve employee motivation

    - improve customer satisfaction

    - give you a competitive advantage

    - reduce staff turnover and absenteeism

    - help you adapt to change and prepare for growth

    - enable you to reach new markets overseas

    In order to get the most out of your training, you should ensure that your training programmer:

    - is linked to your business's goals and performance

    - is part of a business-wide strategy

    - has tangible and obtainable objectives for your employees

    - focuses on helping employees carry out existing tasks more efficiently or to a higher standard

    - can train individuals to take on a different role, such as one with increased responsibilities

    - sets out who is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating the training

    3. Decide What Training You Need

    A training needs analysis (TNA) is a way of figuring out what training your business needs and where you have skills and knowledge gaps. Regular TNAs help you to keep on top of your changing skills needs as the business develops.

    As a first step, try to gather information through:

    - employee surveys

    - management observations

    - customer comments

    - company meetings and inspections

    To carry out a TNA you need to:

    - assess the current skills of individuals at all levels of your business

    - identify the skills needed to take your business forward

    - analyses the gap between your business's current skills, resources and future skills needs

    - plan for bridging that gap with appropriate training

    Ask employees for their input - they are more likely to experience the day-to-day problems that arise when there is a skills gap.

    When carrying out a TNA, you should:

    - consider the full range of training available

    - consider the different levels at which training can occur across different areas of the business

    - think about the costs and benefits of any training

    Think about skills when recruiting

    Before you take on a new employee, you need to think about what you need them for. You may have an urgent skills gap that you need to fill in order to complete a specific piece of work. You may be preparing the business for a future challenge by hiring somebody with the skills that you know you'll need.

    Writing a detailed job advert and person specification will help you to figure out the skills and qualifications that you need from your new recruit. It will also help you plan any future training needs for that person.

    4. Find the Right Type of Training for Your Business

    If you decide to offer training in your business, you should consider the following:

    - whether the training will be in-house or external

    - the cost of the training

    - how your business would benefit

    - the space required if the training is done in-house

    - how much time is needed

    Training can be very flexible. People can study for full or part qualifications or no qualifications at all. They can learn on day release, online, at work or at home or on formal courses.

    There are numerous training methods that you can use including:

    - coaching

    - distance learning

    - e-learning

    - evening classes

    - induction

    - job shadowing

    - mentoring

    - networking/seminars

    - study leaves

    - workshops

    Whichever method you choose, you need to ensure that all employees, including home-workers, part-time workers and disabled employees have equal access to the training they require to perform their job.

    The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) are initiatives that support Indian businesses with employee training. Visit their websites for more details.

    5. Choose the Right Training to Suit Your Employees

    Matching your training to your employees' learning preferences can help you speed up their learning and reduce your training costs.

    For the purposes of training at work, people's preferred learning methods can be broadly divided into active and passive types.

    Active ways of learning include:

    - using initiative

    - doing

    - exploring

    - testing

    Employees who prefer active ways of learning would benefit from e-learning, coaching, project work, individual workshops, simulation, mentoring, open learning, quality competitions and group workshops.

    Passive ways of learning include:

    - observing

    - questioning

    - interpreting

    - reviewing

    Employees who prefer passive ways of learning would benefit from job shadowing, induction, seminars, networking and evening classes.