Do I have what it takes
The Learning Practitioners' Association has gather evidence from various
sources including the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on the size
of the learning development market place. Suffice to say the figures are
confusing.
80.42/1
You may not have come across this number before but it is the Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC) code for Private training providers
activities. This is the pigeon hole you will be classified under when and
if you become an independent/freelance training provider (assuming that
you register). In 2007/08 the number of providers was in the region of
12,500, of all sizes. This suggests that there are a considerable number
of direct competitors in the market. But some of these will also be
potential clients depending on your business model (more on this later).
Our extrapolation out to determine the total number of trainers within
this private sector suggests in the region of 35,000.
Education and Training
The 80.42/1 sector does not include all the other 'educational and
training establishments in 80.42 group of which many will be direct
competitors but also potential clients, if you work in the FE and HE
sector. The number of 'entities' within this sector is in the region of
170,000 (according to BERR [now BIS]) and of which close to 150,000 are
individuals (teachers, lecturers etc).
Can I compete
With the above competitor overview you will begin to understand the
market that you are entering; or contemplating. Can you compete? That
will depend on a number of factors; ALL of which need to be considered
as a whole:
-
Personal resilience
-
Professional development
-
Trainer competence
-
Business acumen
Personal resilience
Unless of course your are going to set up a large training organisation
with many full time employees, being an independent trainer is on the
whole a solitary experience. Be aware that if you are busy the work can
take over your life. And if you are not busy the worry can take over
your life. A bleak picture but one that more often than not befalls many
of the trainers that we at the Association come into contact with.
Whether there is a classic profile of temperament or personality that
freelance trainers should fit is questionable but might I suggest the
following as traits worth having strength in or developing:
And as some of you will note from the above list these indicate:
knowledge, skills and behaviour traits that will form the core of your
professional development
Professional development
When you are employed your learning and development needs and possibly
wants are catered for by your employer; at least that is your hope. As
an independent trainer you are in charge of your own professional
development. And don't under estimate just how much this can cost as a
percentage of your turnover.
So you want to go on a coaching course, learn facilitation skills, brush
up on your presentation skills, become an accredited practitioner of a
tool or instrument or attend a couple of conferences and exhibitions to
see what is going on in the market place. Well there is £10,000 worth of
professional development, taking up at least 25 days when you could be
working.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) will, in the pursuit of a days
work, fall off the priority list if you are not careful. You will find
yourself out of date and out of touch with latest and best practice and
your competence as a trainer may suffer.
Trainer competence
Most learning and development practitioners ended up in their current
position by accident. This is what our own research is telling us. The
Associations own research also suggests that many learning and
development practitioners come from operational backgrounds not related
to learning and development. What does this say about trainer cometence?
Initially it suggests that many newcommers, are subject experts who
either have a natural ability to impart information or like the sound of
their own voice, or both. They became practitioners because they were
good at what they did. It also indicates that many new practitioners are
totally ignorant of learning and development theory. That is not to say
that they do not practice good theory but they do it without knowing.
The same research does also suggest that a good number of experienced
practitioners have gained significant knowledge and skills in the theory
and application of theory in learning and development. And train the
trainer courses and qualification abound. However this does still leave
a significant number of learning and development practitioners who are
'winging it'.
Business acumen
So you are a good trainer, get good results from your practices,
learners learn and clients are happy. But will you survive in business.
Being an independent learning and development practitioner is more than
being a freelance trainer; it is about running a business. It just so
happens that the business is in the delivery of learning and development
services.
Do not underestimate the amount of time, and effort that you will need
to commit, yes I do mean you will need to be committed, to the running
of your business. Granted some people seem to get away with being a
learning and development practitioner as a hobby; don't bank on doing it
yourself successfully.
You will need to:
-
undertake a business planning process
-
set up a legal entity
-
market and sell your products and services
-
monitor the ongoing success of your business entity
and
-
manage and maximise you business assets.
And if you do not know how to do all that you will need to find out
where your can get support; the Learning Practitioners' Association
being one such support organisation.
Finally
So do you have what it takes to be an independent learning and
development practitioner? I hope so. Do consider all that I have said
above. Please do read the other articles that we at the Association have
produced. We are as passionate as you are about your success. Do
consider becoming a member and tapping into the considerable knowledge
and expertise that we have in learning and development practice. Being a
learning and development practitioner may be a solitary experience but
you are not alone when you belong to a group of like minded
'colleagues'.
If there is anything else you would like to know about what the
Association is doing to benefit its members please feel free to contact us.
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