Case study: Establishment of an in-house training facility in Western Europe

Historically the company had pursued a policy of recruiting skilled workers and utilising external training providers to maintain competency levels. However, a point had been reached whereby a large number of impending retirements and a shortage of skilled labour meant that the company could no longer rely on being able to recruit the numbers required to sustain its development. As a result the company had decided to establish in-house training over a period of some 4 to 5 years.

A Diagnostic Study identified the training needs of the total workforce and lead to the development of a one-stop solution encompassing:

• The establishment of in-house English Language Training;
• The selection of the company's trainers and subsequent provision of their professional training;
• The determination of technical and equipment specifications for a new Training Centre;
• The development of programmes and systems of training designed to meet the needs of the company's workforce from director to shop floor level and covering all of the main disciplines;
• The initial delivery of management training programmes for directors and senior managers;
• The provision of both benchmarking opportunities within Corus and technical assistance to overcome specific problems related to newly installed plant and equipment.

The work was undertaken by up to 10 consultants at any one time over a period of 5 years. On completion of the project, the company has achieved its original objective and has established a Training Function that is acknowledged as a leader in a country where the demand for professional training outstrips the supply.