Corporate training, also known as workplace training or employee training, refers to the process of providing employees within a company or organization with the knowledge, skills, and competencies they need to perform their jobs effectively and efficiently.
Corporate training programs are designed to enhance the performance, productivity, and professional development of employees.
These programs can take various forms and cover a wide range of topics, including:
Technical Skills Training
This involves teaching employees specific skills and competencies related to their job roles. For example, software training, technical certifications, and equipment operation training fall under this category.
Soft Skills Development
Soft skills, such as communication, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management, are essential for workplace success. Corporate training programs often focus on improving these interpersonal and behavioral skills.
Compliance and Regulatory Training
Certain industries and roles require employees to adhere to specific regulations, standards, and compliance requirements. Training programs ensure that employees understand and comply with these rules.
Safety and Health Training
Ensuring a safe working environment is critical. Employees may receive training on topics like workplace safety, first aid, emergency response, and health and wellness.
Sales and Customer Service Training
Sales teams often undergo training to improve their selling techniques, while customer service representatives may receive training in handling customer inquiries and resolving issues.
Leadership and Management Development
Companies invest in training programs to groom future leaders and managers. Topics may include leadership skills, decision-making, strategic planning, and performance management.
Diversity and Inclusion Training
Many organizations prioritize diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Training programs help employees understand and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Product and Service Training
For companies offering specific products or services, employees need to be knowledgeable about these offerings. Training ensures they can effectively promote and support them.
Onboarding and Orientation
New employees often go through onboarding and orientation programs to familiarize themselves with company culture, policies, and procedures.
Professional Development
Some organizations encourage employees to pursue continuous learning and development. They may offer opportunities for employees to attend workshops, seminars, or earn advanced degrees.
Corporate training can be delivered through various methods, including in-person workshops, online courses, e-learning platforms, webinars, mentorship programs, and more. The choice of delivery method depends on factors like the nature of the training, the size of the organization, and the preferences of the learners.
The primary goals of corporate training are to improve employee performance, enhance job satisfaction, boost productivity, reduce turnover, and ultimately contribute to the company's success and competitiveness in the market.
The Corporate Training Revenue Opportunity for Colleges
Corporate training represents a significant revenue opportunity for colleges and universities. This market has been growing steadily in recent years as companies recognize the importance of upskilling and reskilling their workforce to remain competitive in a rapidly changing business landscape.
Here are some key aspects of the corporate training revenue opportunity for colleges:
Customized Programs: Colleges can develop customized training programs tailored to the specific needs of corporate clients. These programs can cover a wide range of topics, including technical skills, leadership development, industry-specific knowledge, and more.
Certification and Credentials: Many corporate training programs offer certifications or credentials upon completion. Colleges can leverage their expertise in curriculum design and assessment to provide valuable credentials that are recognized and respected in the industry.
Online and Blended Learning: With the increasing demand for online and remote learning, colleges can offer flexible delivery options, such as online courses, webinars, and blended learning formats, to meet the needs of corporate learners.
Industry Partnerships: Collaborating with industry partners can open doors to corporate training opportunities. Establishing relationships with local businesses and industry associations can lead to contracts for training services.
Continuing Education: Corporate training can be integrated into a college's continuing education department, providing opportunities for adults and working professionals to enhance their skills without pursuing a formal degree program.
Skill Shortages: As industries face skill shortages in certain areas, colleges can step in to offer training programs that address these gaps, making themselves valuable partners to corporations looking to fill critical positions.
Talent Development: Companies are increasingly focused on talent development and succession planning. Colleges can provide leadership and management training to help organizations nurture their own talent for future leadership roles.
Government and Grant Opportunities: In some cases, government grants and incentives may be available to colleges that offer training programs aimed at addressing specific workforce development needs.
Marketing and Outreach: Effective marketing and outreach strategies are crucial to attracting corporate clients. Colleges can employ marketing teams or work with consultants to promote their training offerings to businesses.
Competitive Advantage: Colleges that establish a strong reputation for providing high-quality corporate training can gain a competitive edge in the education market and secure long-term partnerships with businesses.
It's important for colleges to conduct market research, understand the specific needs of local industries, and build strong relationships with corporate clients to maximize the revenue potential in the corporate training sector.
Additionally, staying current with industry trends and emerging technologies will help colleges remain competitive in this evolving market.
Sixteen Best Practices for Colleges in Selling Corporate Training Programs
Selling corporate training programs to businesses requires a strategic approach and effective communication. Here are some best practices for colleges looking to sell corporate training programs:
1. Understand the Needs of Corporate Clients
Research the specific needs and pain points of potential corporate clients. Tailor your training programs to address their challenges and goals.
2. Customize Training Solutions
Offer customized training programs that align with the unique requirements and objectives of each client. Be flexible in adapting your offerings to meet their specific needs.
3. Highlight ROI (Return on Investment)
Emphasize the potential return on investment that businesses can achieve through your training programs. Show how improved skills and knowledge can lead to increased productivity, reduced turnover, and better overall performance.
4. Demonstrate Expertise and Quality
Showcase your college's expertise, faculty qualifications, and track record in delivering high-quality education. Provide case studies, testimonials, and success stories from past corporate clients.
5. Offer Flexible Delivery Options
Provide a range of training delivery options, including in-person, online, and blended learning. Flexibility in delivery methods can accommodate different employee schedules and preferences.
6. Provide Clear Learning Outcomes
Clearly define the learning outcomes and objectives of your training programs. Businesses want to know what employees will gain from the training.
7. Set Clear Expectations
Establish transparent expectations regarding the duration, cost, and resources required for the training program. This helps build trust with corporate clients.
8. Customized Pricing and Payment Plans
Consider flexible pricing structures and payment plans that align with the budget constraints of your corporate clients. Offer discounts for bulk enrollments or long-term partnerships.
9. Offer Post-Training Support
Include post-training support, such as access to resources, ongoing mentorship, or follow-up assessments, to ensure that employees continue to benefit from the training.
10. Compliance and Certification
If applicable, ensure that your training programs meet industry-specific regulations and standards. Offer certifications or credentials that are recognized and valued by the industry.
11. Effective Marketing and Outreach
Develop a strong marketing strategy to promote your training programs. Use targeted marketing channels, such as industry events, social media, email campaigns, and partnerships with local business associations.
12. Build Relationships
Establish and nurture relationships with key decision-makers in the corporate sector. Networking and maintaining a positive reputation can lead to repeat business and referrals.
13. Continuous Improvement
Gather feedback from corporate clients and use it to continuously improve your training programs. Adapt to changing industry needs and technological advancements.
14. Compliance and Reporting
Ensure that your training programs can generate reports and data that businesses may need for compliance purposes or to assess the impact of the training.
15. Legal and Contractual Agreements
Work with legal professionals to create clear and fair contractual agreements that protect both your institution and the corporate client.
16. Stay Informed About Industry Trends
Keep abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and changing workforce needs. Adapt your programs accordingly to remain competitive.
Selling corporate training programs can be a lucrative venture for colleges, but it requires a customer-centric approach, a deep understanding of the corporate training landscape, and a commitment to delivering value to your clients. Building strong, long-term relationships with businesses is often key to sustained success in this market.
About LMS Portals
At LMS Portals, we provide our clients and partners with a SaaS-based, multi-tenant learning management system that allows you to launch a dedicated training environment (a portal) for each of your unique audiences.
The system includes built-in, SCORM-compliant course authoring software that provides a drag and drop engine to enable most anyone to build engaging courses quickly and easily.
We also offer a complete library of ready-made courses, covering most every aspect of corporate training and employee development.
If you choose to, you can create Learning Paths to deliver courses in a logical progression and add structure to your training program. The system also supports Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) and provides tools for social learning.
Together, these features make the LMS Portals platform the ideal solution to for our college and other higher education partners looking to provide online training to their corporate clients.
Contact us today to get started or visit our Partner Program pages