Analysis of the costs and benefits of training

Training needs are based on the recognition by the company that it lacks the experience and skills to be able to adapt to the changes foreseen. Aquaculture is a young sector that is a multi-disciplinary activity situated in a rapidly-changing business climate. The factors that affect production, technology, markets, environmental practices, public image etc. link together under the umbrella that is the company and changes in any of these can affect the profitability and long term future of the business.

It is the competence of the people working in aquaculture that dominates the other forms of capital used in the production process. This means that the productivity of all the company's resources depends on the competence of those managing them, be it the owner, the Board of Directors, the fish farm manager, the site supervisor, the skilled operator etc.

In addition, it is interesting to note that evidence has emerged in other European industries to show that the major causes of differences in productivity between otherwise similar firms, operating in different countries, arise from:

• machine breakdowns
• poor maintenance
• poor production control
• poor diagnosis of faults

All of these issues have their origins in the technical skills at the level of supervisors and operators.

You can evaluate the benefits of training to your company by monitoring some of the following criteria:

• Reduced staff turnover.
• Reduced no. of accidents.
• Market expansion.
• Reduced production costs.
• Reduced insurance premiums.
• Increased productivity.
• Fewer disease incidents and treatments.
• Increased flexibility of staff.

Questions

• Have you consulted any of the training provision checklists?
• Have you filled out any of them?
• Are you ready to prepare a Company Development Pland or are you still a long way away from this step?

Danger Point