How to train your tech team on a budget

Today’s economy is tough. Expectations from teams are higher than ever, but rising pressure on budgets means higher pressure, and competing priorities. In saying this, productivity remains paramount, so team leaders are finding themselves having to think strategically about the best use of their resources. In today’s economy, where does training and team development fit in?

Investing in employee training is essential for long-term success. But, it’s often one of the first areas to get cut in times of budget pressure. Our suggestion? Rather than cutting training altogether, aim to be more strategic: look for cost effective ways to train your team, keep productivity high and boost your team’s engagement.

Let’s unpack a few key strategies to help you get more bang for your budget —and keep your team on the right track.

Peer-to-peer learning and mentoring

The first port of call is to harness the expertise within your own ranks by fostering peer-to-peer learning and mentoring programs. No doubt, within your team, you already have a plethora of different skill sets and specialties. Encourage team members who possess these specialised skills to share their knowledge through informal sessions like lunch and learns, or more structured mentoring programs.

This not only promotes knowledge sharing but also fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous learning —and keeps your top performers engaged and gives them an opportunity to practice new skills, like presenting skills, and teaching others.

Tap into free online resources

In the digital age, a wealth of training resources are available at your fingertips —often at no cost. Platforms like Microsoft Learn offer a treasure trove of educational content, from beginner to advanced levels, covering topics ranging from cloud computing to data analytics. Or, if webinars are more your speed, keep an eye out for relevant topics on LinkedIn and create a space on your team Slack or Teams channel to share relevant sessions with your team.

These webinars —or things like industry podcasts— provide valuable insights and best practices from industry experts, allowing your team to stay updated on the latest trends and technologies without breaking the bank. These free online resources cover a wide range of cloud topics, and can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

Try a Blended Learning Approach

Stretch your training budget further by adopting a blended learning approach. Instead of solely relying on more costly external training programs, leverage a mix of online resources and instructor-led sessions. Blended learning not only reduces costs but also enhances learning outcomes by providing flexibility and personalised learning experiences tailored to individual needs.

This approach allows employees to learn at their own pace, and get access to more resources and self-paced options, while still benefiting from expert guidance and support of an experienced trainer.

Strategic allocation of your training budget

Take a more strategic approach to allocating your training budget by identifying your organisation’s biggest skill gaps and training priorities. Conduct a thorough learning needs analysis to pinpoint areas where additional training is needed and prioritise your training investments accordingly.

Once you know your business’ skills gaps, you can develop a customised learning plan to address your specific training goals and maximise cost efficiency and ROI.

Invest in the right training partner

At Bespoke, we understand the need to get the best training outcomes, while operating within budget constraints. We’re here to help you through the process of identifying what your skills gaps are, and giving you a structured, proven pathway to get your business from where it is, to where you want it to be.

So why wait? Complete our exclusive Cloud Skills Assessment or get in touch to build your customised flexible training to start maximising your budget today.