On this page5 sections
What a staff training plan should cover
A training plan turns training needs into a schedule someone owns. It should say what training is needed and why, who needs it, how it will be delivered, when, what it will cost and how you will know it has happened.
Keep it tied to real needs. A plan built from last year's list tends to repeat courses nobody needs and miss the renewals that matter.
- The training needs the plan responds to, and where each came from
- Who needs each piece of training, by role or name
- The delivery method, provider and planned date
- The cost against the budget
- The status of each item, from planned to completed
- Regular reviews, with changes recorded
Where training needs come from
Start with the needs, not the courses. Most come from a small number of places, and a training needs analysis brings them together.
- Required training by role, and renewals falling due in the plan period
- Appraisal and development actions
- Skills gaps from a skills audit or skills matrix
- New equipment, services, sites or regulations
- Incidents, complaints and audit findings
How to use the template
Fill in the training needs table first, then add a planned training row for each need. Use the budget table to see what is committed and spent, and book a review each quarter to update progress and move anything that has slipped.
Share the plan with the managers who release people for training. It works best when they can see the dates well ahead.
Annual training plan or rolling schedule?
An annual plan suits budgets and board reporting. A rolling schedule suits teams where people join, move and renew all year. Many organisations do both: an annual plan for budget and priorities, with renewals and bookings managed as they fall due.
When a document stops being enough
A plan in a document is only as current as its last update. Once renewals, bookings and certificates change every week, it helps to keep them in a system that shows what is due, overdue and booked for each person.
SkillProof keeps required training by role, renewal dates, Sessions and certificates with each person, with reminders before training expires, so your plan starts from live records.
Questions this guide answers
What is a staff training plan?
A schedule of the training a team or organisation will deliver over a period, usually a year, showing the need, the people, the method, the date, the cost and the status of each item.
What is the difference between a training plan and a training needs analysis?
A training needs analysis works out what training is needed and why. The training plan schedules how and when those needs will be met, and at what cost.
How often should a training plan be reviewed?
Review it at least quarterly, and whenever a need, budget or requirement changes. Record what changed so the plan stays a true picture.
Is the template free?
Yes. The Word template is free to download and edit, with no sign-up required.