Ongoing training

Ongoing training means employees regularly update their knowledge and skills throughout their working life, rather than learning everything once at the start of a job. It is sometimes called continuous training, and it never really finishes while someone stays in a role.

Ongoing training can be given to anyone in the business, not only new starters or managers. A cleaner may need a refresher on safe chemical handling, a receptionist may need training on a new booking system, and a kitchen assistant may need an update on allergen rules. Because the world of work keeps changing, skills that were up to date a few years ago can quietly go out of date.

Keeping up with change

Ongoing training helps employees keep pace with four kinds of change:

• Technology — new tills, booking software or machines replace old ones, so staff must learn the new way of working.
• Law — rules on safety, food hygiene, data protection and safeguarding are updated, so staff must know what is now expected.
• Working practices — a business may change how shifts are planned or how orders are packed, and everyone must follow the same new method.
• Customer expectations — customers may now expect quick online replies or card-free payments, so employees need new skills to serve them well.

For example, a garden centre that installs self-service checkouts might run short sessions for everyone, including the person who waters the plants, so that any member of staff can help a confused customer.

Continuing professional development

Some professional roles require a set amount of continuing professional development (CPD) each year to keep their skills current — a minimum number of training hours or activities that must be completed to stay qualified to practise. This protects the public, because clients can trust that a professional's knowledge is up to date.

Because it never finishes, ongoing training has to be planned into the working year; regular short sessions in quieter periods fit around the job more easily than one long course.