How to develop the skills of your employees?

In a context of constant change in professions, the company must have a skills' development plan. The objective is to encourage employees to improve their skills at their workstation. With IPAG Online, our distance learning business school, find out how to set up a skills' development plan, its benefits and the types of training available.

The development of employee skills, a major challenge for companies

Professional training has many advantages for both the employer and the employee. So why do professional training in companies? The development of skills, and the acquisition of new ones, will enable individuals. Whatever their position, to be more efficient, to update their technical skills, to acquire new managerial skills (management, conflict management, etc.) with a view to advancement within the company or to obtain certification.

For the employee, the acquisition of skills is a factor of motivation, recognition and personal fulfilment in the company. For the employer, professional training helps to retain employees, ensure their continued employment and the long-term future of the organisation. To achieve these objectives and improve performance, a skills development plan should be drawn up.

Definition of the skills' development plan

Under the Professional Future Act, the skills development plan has replaced the “training plan” since 2019. It is a tool for steering vocational training that brings together all the training actions that an employer must implement.

This skills development plan is implemented at the initiative of employers. It allows companies to support the development of employees, to improve their professional skills, to help them acquire managerial skills and to ensure that they are adapted to their jobs.

The different types of training in the framework of the skills development plan

The skills development plan includes two types of training. Compulsory or necessary training enables employees to acquire skills that will be used in their jobs. These actions are organised during working hours with continued remuneration.

Non-compulsory training is designed to allow employees to choose their own training that will enable them to develop professionally. They are also carried out during working hours and the employee's salary is maintained. These non-compulsory actions can be organised outside of actual working time, under certain conditions.

Who is concerned by the skills development plan?

Any type of company can draw up a skills development plan, regardless of its size. When it is implemented, it is the employer who decides who can benefit from a training action. In this case, the employee concerned cannot refuse if the training is compulsory. This training is considered to be part of the normal performance of the employment contract.

How do you set up a skills' development plan for your teams?

The elaboration of a skills development plan must be based on the strategic needs of the company as well as on the skills needs of the employees, which is why several steps are essential:

• First of all, needs must be collected from managers and employees (individual interviews, skills assessment, etc.).
• Analyse the data collected and determine training solutions in line with these needs (training methods, themes, list of necessary skills, planning, etc.).
• On the budget side, define the possible resources in terms of training actions and keep the most important points according to the budget.
• For a company with more than 50 employees, the proposal for the development plan should be submitted to the ETUC in order to adjust the decided training actions as well as possible and ensure that the desired results are achieved.
• Once the plan has been finalised, it is important to ensure that the training plan is properly distributed to all employees.
• Ensure that the effectiveness of the training plan is monitored and evaluated: have the actions enabled employees to acquire new skills? Has internal mobility been encouraged? Are the skills needs still relevant? Depending on the assessment, the plan may need to be modified.

Have your employees take training at IPAG to develop their skills

IPAG Online offers distance training courses leading to a certificate or qualification in order to increase the skills of your employees. Our distance learning courses are designed for those who wish to update their skills or acquire new ones, but for whom face-to-face training is an obstacle.

The advantages of e-learning are numerous. Easily accessible, online professional training courses enable employees to learn at their own pace from the workplace. As part of your skills development plan, IPAG offers in-company training that can be adjusted to your needs, as well as customised in-company training programmes.

To keep up with the trend of changing training needs, IPAG Business School provides a training offer to meet the specific needs of your organisation and to support your company's strategy.