A lot of workers believe that they could be more successful at work if they had more knowledge and training. However, it’s possible that many people think that they can’t speak to their employer and ask them for education funding. Perhaps they believe that this is an inappropriate question to ask, or they don’t think that their employer would agree. In reality, employees that have been invested in by their place of work often have a higher well-being and are more productive — bringing more to their company.
Is there a right way to approach your employer to ask them for education funding? There are certain things to remember when approaching an employer and asking them for training. Members of the Newcastle College adult learning department give us their advice:
Doing sufficient research
Take time to learn about the education area that you want to go into before speaking to your employer. With many training and education providers, you’ll find that there are a range of courses and options available. From night courses to part-time degrees, to higher apprenticeships, you can find a course that will fit nicely around your work/life balance.
Some people believe that university is their only option when looking to go into further education, but this isn’t the case. Speak to your local college and visit their website to see what they have to offer — it’s likely that they run a course related to your field or around a topic that you’re interested in.
Show your employer how flexible the training can be
Demonstrate to your employer how flexible training could be around your job. Again, this is all about doing your research and demonstrating to your boss that there are flexible courses out there – designed for workers like you!
Did you know that you can be assessed on the job to receive your qualification? This means that you wouldn’t be sacrificing any working hours for exams and your ability to complete tasks at work shouldn’t be affected.
Speak to your local college for a detailed list of modules and methods of assessment for the course you’d like to apply for.
What benefits could you bring?
Doing further training could bring a range of benefits for yourself and your employer.
Furthering your knowledge could be filling a gap in the company where no one currently has this knowledge. You can then share with your colleagues. It’s also possible that after your training, you could be bringing in financial benefits for the business, for example if it means they don’t have to employ somebody else to fill a role or an external company to pick up that area of work. Think about what your new qualification could allow you to do and present this to your employer when asking the question.
It’s important to most employers that their workforce is satisfied at work. Let your employer know what this training would mean for you. Will it make you feel more confident in your role? Or, more valued and empowered? If so, express these feelings to your boss.
Provide them with the information that they need
Give your employer all of the information that they need to make a decision. This allows them to fully review all the information at a later date and saves them from doing in-depth research themselves.
What sort of information should this include? Module overviews, assessment methods, course testimonials and information about websites or open days would all be useful. With these, they can find out more if they want to.
When carrying out further education, it’s likely that you’ll have to give up some personal time too. Make sure your employer knows the sacrifices you are willing to make to improve your performance at work.
Consider the above when approaching your employer for funding. Don’t be afraid to ask the question — you and your employer can both enjoy the many benefits.