Learning and Development is one of our core benchmark standards in the Best Traineeship competition. We look for programs with robust and well-thought-out learning and development methodologies designed with the whole company’s needs in mind.

The ideal program empowers trainees and gives them the skills to help the company move forward with individual needs considered, and the plans are also adaptable. As the trainee progresses in their role and tackles new projects, their training also changes to help them level up their skills. This is for personal and company-driven projects.

Trends

In the 2020 competition, we saw an increase in the importance of learning and development in trainee feedback. 

This reflects a significant trend within the traineeship world – the need for more focus on skills-based training and developing your trainees.

Our L&D winner, NN Group, were particularly noted for their attention to detail – embedding their methodology into their program and supporting their company strategy. Their focus on this topic was also reflected in their trainee feedback, with a clear description of their learning curve and its impact on their performance.

The results were precise – a clear learning and development methodology firmly embedded into the company culture and programs positively impact trainees.

Accelerated Learning

Traineeships are often a fast-tracked learning experience. Trainees enter the workforce and literally hit the ground running. While this gives them an advantage in their work progression, it can impact the trainee mentally and physically.

The fast-paced learning from experience combined with the expertise of peers and mentors creates a pressure cooker situation – they have access to more information and knowledge and need to retain this fast. The close environment, combined with a wealth of experience, is an ideal environment for learning.

Ensuring that your traineeship program has regular check-in times and strong trainee focussed mentors means that the impact of fast-paced learning can be lessened. A strong mentor can help your trainees develop work-life balance and embrace their role within the company.

“Value the differences in your trainees and build the program around helping your young talents to discover themselves, their unique qualities, pitfalls, interests, and drivers, and how they can make the best use of it.”

Vanessa Baker, NN Group – Winners Learning and Development, Best Traineeship Awards 2020

Integrating regular check-ins and mentoring into your company’s learning and development program can elevate your traineeships.

Learning and Development In A Multigenerational Workplace

While traineeships can create the future of the workplace, it’s often the current employees who have difficulty seeing the benefits of traineeships.

There is a problem with the perception that while older generations have had to work longer and under different circumstances to achieve their positions and that trainees are often handed things on the proverbial “silver platter,” this isn’t always the case. Older team members don’t feel connected to the trainees/traineeships – things were different in their day. There’s no connection for them to the traineeship program.

As we previously mentioned, the accelerated learning that trainees undergo creates a fast-paced, pressurized environment for them. They also have exceptionally high expectations to perform due to this fast-tracking. 

Open communication with your whole team about the traineeship program and the expectations placed on the trainees will help break down these misconceptions. Involving the entire team in the creation of new learning and development protocols, as well as the use of effective mentorship, will also help Chip Conley, Author and Hospitality Entrepreneur, speaks about bridging the generational gaps in this TED Talk.

Creating Effective L&D Programs in the Workplace

Learning and Development don’t have to be daunting; it doesn’t have to overwhelm your trainees or isolate the older generations.

Instead, look at a holistic approach to your programs – how can you integrate the needs of all team members and involve them in the process? How can you utilize your team’s existing skills and support your trainees’ growth and development?

Use and adopt different learning methods, and build a solid mentorship program. And, of course, check in regularly with your trainees and your whole team and discuss their needs in training.

It’s about breaking down the barriers between the generations and creating a cohesive and tolerant learning environment that understands the unique challenges and needs of all your employees.

And that’s crucial for developing practical traineeships that make a lasting impact on your company and on your team.

Want to showcase your Learning and Development for traineeships and gain insights into current and future trends? Sign up for this year’s competition here.

If you’re interested in the data but don’t want to participate, you can also gain access to trends, feedback and more and sign up for our Benchmark Report here.