Public Sector

In the public sector, the need for ongoing professional development is just as crucial as it is in the private sector.

Training programs can help public sector employees stay informed on best practices, adapt to changing demands and serve their communities more effectively.

In this blog, we’ll delve into the reasons why you should develop a training program for your employees, types of common training programs in the public sector and top tips on how to develop a successful one for your organisation or team.

Three Reasons Why Your Organisation Needs an Employee Training Program

1. To improve service delivery

Public sector organisations are responsible for delivering a wide range of services to the community. Training programs can help employees understand the needs of the community and develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide high-quality service.

2. To build capacity

Public sector organisations often face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified employees, particularly in specialised areas such as IT, data or finance. Training programs can help build the capacity of existing employees and ensure that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to take on more complex roles and responsibilities.

3. To foster a culture of continuous learning

It is important for all public sector employees to stay up to date on the latest policies, procedures, and best practices in their field. Training programs can help create a culture of continuous learning and ensure that employees can develop their skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis.

Our In-House training statistics from 2022 told us that employees who attended a training course found that their skills grew by 33%. This means that if employees can see the growth and change from the time and effort spent learning, they’re more likely to want to continue learning.

Four Types of Employee Training Programs for the Public Sector

There are many different types of employee training programs, but as the UK’s trusted public sector training provider, we’ve seen four specific types that are the most common for many organisations in the public sector:

1. Soft Skills Training

From verbal communication to written, soft skills training can cover various topics including how to give a strong speech, produce an engaging presentation, write an effective report or respond to complaints efficiently.

2. Compliance Training

Compliance training can differ depending on who needs it, but it can cover HR training (e.g. Equality and Diversity), business compliance training (Cyber-security awareness) or compliance for leaders training (Bullying and Harassment).

3. Specialised/Technical Training

Specialised or technical training often means hard, practical skills gained from in-depth training and hands-on practical education. From data analytics to financial reporting, this type of training can be for various job titles depending on the needs of the organisation.

4. Leadership and Management Training

It’s up to leaders and managers to ensure employees meet targets, maintain a healthy well-being and create an engaging, happy culture, all of which can be tricky, even for those who are experienced. Leadership and management training can teach various elements, from strategic planning to developing agile teams or even how to coach and mentor staff.

Five Tips for Building a Successful Employee Training Program

1. Identify the learning objectives and needs

Before designing the training program, it is essential to identify the training’s specific goals, objectives and needs. One of the most effective ways to do this is through a thorough skills gap analysis. This will help ensure that the training is targeted and focused on the areas where the employees need the most support.

2. Involve employees in the planning process

Involving employees in the planning process can help ensure that the training meets their needs and addresses any specific concerns or challenges they may have. It can also help increase buy-in and engagement with the training. Ask your employees questions such as:

What learning methods work for you?
What specific skills do you want to focus on or improve?
What kind of training will help you perform your job more effectively?

3. Use a variety of training methods

To keep things interesting and ensure the training is effective for all types of learners, consider using a variety of training methods such as workshops, group learning (In-House), half-day courses, case studies and practical face-to-face learning.

4. Use technology to your advantage

Technology can be a powerful tool for training, particularly when it comes to virtual training. Consider using online learning platforms, video conferencing tools or interactive simulations to deliver training.

5. Follow up and provide ongoing support

Training shouldn’t end when the programme is over. It is important to follow up with employees to see how they are applying what they have learned and to provide ongoing support as needed. This could include additional training sessions, coaching, or E-Learning that employees can use to continually develop their skills.

Now your training program has been completed, it’s time to evaluate how effective it was at reaching the intended goals. Here are five proven models to help you evaluate your learning and development initiatives.

Public Sector Training Program Q&A:

1. Why should you invest in a training program for employees?

From improving retention rates to boosting service efficiency, investing in a training program means you’ll be investing in your employees and the services they provide. An employee training program can also help your organisation meet its goals by building highly skilled and performing teams that are equipped for any challenge or opportunity.

2. What are the benefits of training programs for employees?

Training programs give employees the opportunity to learn a new skill, develop a current one, gain confidence and even gain a promotion. Some training topics may be dryer (or even boring) compared to others, but it’s important to highlight the benefits of learning and how it will help them improve the efficiency of their day-to-day tasks.

3. What’s the best way to identify the most effective training program for employees?

A skill gap analysis and feedback. These two things can unlock insights into the needs of the organisation and what employees want to learn. When you combine these two, you’re bound to have a successful training program. Get a free skills gap analysis using the button above.

4. How can you get key stakeholders on board with a professional training program?

You may have key stakeholders or senior staff who need convincing about the benefits of an employee training program. Two ways to gain buy-in are by:

Setting out clear objectives and the benefits for the organisation when employees achieve them
Showing feedback or input from employees to champion the idea

Source: https://blog.moderngov.com/

61% believe their organization is not keeping pace with the private sector in adopting and implementing modern technologies.
36% believe that government will never catch up with the private sector in terms of technology.

Granicus Survey

According to a recent report by McKinsey, digitization has the potential to unlock over $3.5 trillion of economic value for the government and public sector.

Governments all around the globe are relying on digital transformation to stay current with the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The process of employing digital technology to restructure and enhance government services is known as “government digital transformation.”

Useful tips for implementing government digital transformation:

Define your Digital Transformation Goals: What should your project for digital transformation look like? What are you aiming to accomplish? What issues are you seeking to solve? Your projects will be prioritized, and everyone will be on the same page with the aid of your responses to these questions.
Be explicit about your success criteria right at the beginning: Define the measures to be employed in evaluating the effectiveness of your digital transformation project, then track your progress as the project progresses.
Early and frequent communication with citizens and government employees: Describe the initiative’s purpose and the impact it will have on them. Regularly provide progress updates to keep everyone informed and involved.
Be ready to modify your organization’s procedures and structure: Changes to the way work is done will be necessary as government becomes more digital. Make sure you have a strategy in place to deal with these developments.
Invest in staff training since new technology and procedures will be required of them. If you want instruction on a certain subject, think about utilizing outside specialists.
Before widely implementing new concepts and technology, use pilot programs to test them. This will assist you in avoiding expensive errors and ensuring that new solutions satisfy your agency’s requirements.
Persevere: the digital transformation of government takes time and cannot be completed quickly. Be prepared for roadblocks and be ready to modify your ideas if necessary.

The digital transformation of government can have numerous advantages, such as increased efficacy and efficiency, but there are drawbacks as well. To fully take advantage of digital transformation’s opportunities, it will be crucial to keep these possible advantages and difficulties in mind as governments continue to go digital.

To some extent, the difficulties huge organizations face in carrying out their missions are similar to those faced by governmental institutions. These include eliminating silos, winning management and employee support, funding investments, sustaining business operations, upgrading technology, and participating in talent competitions to identify people with the necessary skills.

However, the demand on governments to address pressing social and economic needs while maintaining budget restraints poses additional difficulties for organizations in the public sector. Furthermore, as the private sector continues to raise the bar for excellent customer satisfaction delivery, so do the general public’s expectations regarding their government.

Government organizations must be capable of meeting and exceeding the expectations of the public if they are to earn their trust. Four important components are thus required for this to happen.

Deep Understanding of Citizenry Needs

Any government that wishes to be successful must base its strategy on the needs of the public as a source of value. This entails getting to know the users of the services—in this example, the citizens—and then utilizing the knowledge gathered to select and prioritize the strategic initiatives/programs/projects that will provide the greatest value to those users/citizens.

Deploy the right data management framework.

Government institutions (Federal, State & Local) can no longer pay lip service to the importance of data. Globally, governments rely on data analytics to power vital initiatives, including fraud detection, accounting, intelligence, military upkeep, and healthcare. Public-sector agencies should leverage data analytics to boost service quality, efficiency, and labor productivity.

Take a look at the most recent victories that Ukrainian warfighters have had over Russian forces to better appreciate the usefulness of big data and data analytics in governance.

Agility Adoption

Successful organizations can adapt swiftly to changing customer requirements while preserving long-term resilience. The adaptive strategy should be used by government agencies dealing with extremely unpredictable, non-malleable environments. In the face of unpredictability and uncertainty, long-term planning makes little sense.

Instead, deploying specialized teams with a certain amount of time to complete their tasks, apply scenario-based methods, and promote a disruptive culture is crucial. The ability to react quickly to signals should be a top priority for government teams working at the front lines.

Civil service regulations should be relaxed to provide room for the investigation of novel, unconventional solutions.

Set Clear Objectives & Performance Parameters

Successful institutions are deliberate and specific in the results they seek to achieve, and they meticulously track their development at each stage of execution. Government leaders can make clear, educated judgments about what outcomes to assess when they are led by the findings of the strategic thought process and insights from data analysis.

Public-sector companies can start to overcome the obstacles that have previously thwarted efforts to increase transformation by using the four essential strategies outlined.

Public Sector /

How to Develop a Training Program for Employees in the Public Sector