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A recent report by GartnerLink opens in a new window indicated how instrumental building critical skills and competencies will be for HR leaders in 2021. With over one third of respondents reporting that over 40 per cent of the workforce will need to learn new skills in the coming year, it’s clear that the pandemic has had an impact on job roles.

The research by Gartner identified three key trends HR leaders must take into consideration in 2021:

1. An increase in remote working
2. The prioritisation of resilience
3. Efficiency and the widening of skillsets

With new roles or job expectations, it is clear that staff will need to be prepared for these new ways of working. In light of this, it is imperative that organisations start to re-prioritise the development of employees to help ensure the business succeeds.

Investing in learning and development (L&D)

In order to plan successfully for the year ahead, setting aside resources to invest in training employees will be essential. Teams that work efficiently, collaboratively and creatively will be instrumental in the future success of the business.

Before the pandemic hit, Warwick Conferences discovered that 75 per cent of HR leaders expected the organisation’s L&D budget to increase or stay the same. However, while budgets remain tight as the post-Covid recovery begins, it is clear that L&D should remain a priority.

Many people have had to learn new skills in 2020, or adapt to new roles. To prepare colleagues for this, training should be carefully considered to ensure all staff have the right tools to succeed. Investing in developing the skillsets of employees not only increases their knowledge, it also improves their confidence and performance within the team. Perhaps most importantly, it also shows confidence in the business, which in turn can drive team members to continue their commitment to work.

Adjusting to working from home

In addition to the changes to employees’ job roles, the pandemic has also had a major impact on the working environment. According to the Office for National Statistics, 86 per cent of those working from home in April 2020 were doing so as a result of coronavirus. The move to home working has been a serious adjustment for many, but how does it compare to working in the office?

While working from home may be a dream come true for some, it has implications on engagement levels when it comes to training. Carrying out training sessions online can result in attendees losing focus more easily. Whether it’s ‘screen fatigue’, or the increase of distractions when working from home, it is important that the right training method is applied in the coming year, where possible.

The instantaneous nature of online communication has its benefits, especially for those self-isolating. However, face-to-face training remains the recommended choice to maximise efficiency. Physical interaction is the best way to learn, communicate and build connections, while it will also nurture the company culture and strengthen the team as a whole.

For businesses with employees unable to travel, hybrid training sessions are also an option to allow some employees to join online while others can attend in person.

Final thoughts

Warwick Conferences understands the added value of hosting training sessions in person and how this will be instrumental to the future success of businesses. As a result of this, our team is committed to providing safe, engaging spaces to hold these events in whether they are physical team meetings or hybrid meetings.

We have specialist teams on hand to advise on the structuring of the day as well as the Cloud Conferencing team to provide technical support, ensuring the smooth running of training activities. Get in touch with our team to find out what spaces you can book for your training sessions.