Planning a training programme

It is interesting when you speak with a client how optimistic they are in their thoughts about how a training programme will be rolled out into an organisation.  One year a client, in June, asked me to run 6 workshops in July because everyone had to have the training by August 1st....I was still delivering the sessions in October.

This was not due to my bad diary management but people who are planning a training programme do not realise how important the logistics of an event are.  You have to consider:

• Availability of the venue and not just any old room, but one with natural daylight and plenty of space for the delegates
• Time of year for holidays and for operational peaks 
• People need notice for courses, especially if it is more than one day out of work, so that they can schedule their work and organise their team.
• Optional dates are much better to 'sell' than the phrase 'you must go on this course'.  Imagine what it is like for us trainers if the delegates don't want to be there!!
• Managing cancellations and re-arrangements especially if it is a mandatory programme has to be done effectively; again this is a big logistical issue that organisations have to consider
• Minimum & maximum delegates on a course are critical to the success of the learning event and us trainers will develop the programme around those key numbers.  It is very hard to run a course for only three people if it was designed for twelve

So if you are arranging a training programme or about to meet a client to arrange to deliver one please consider the above (not exhaustive but a start) so that you can ensure that the investment is not wasted.