The Competitive Edge of Continuing Ed

If knowledge is power, then training and continuing education are the power source that keeps your business moving ahead. From industry changes to regulation to technology and more, additional training and education is available in virtually every aspect of business, from a wide variety of different sources, says workplace training consultant Karen S. Sieczka, founder of Growing Great Ideas in Douglasville, Georgia.

'The resources available range from free to thousands of dollars. What you choose really is a combination of what you and your employees need and the resources you have available,' she says.

Alex Reiss, spokesperson for Spiceworks, an information technology (IT) software and solution provider, offers free training and information to its user base. 'There is the IT track, which is understanding the technology that will help the business grow. Then, there is also the training of end users in the technology,' he states. Spiceworks uses video, webinars, and other tools to deliver training and education materials on everything from how to use an array of technologies to various aspects of running a business.

Sieczka says that many business owners should be able to find training resources at little or no cost, unless they're looking for highly specialized or customized programs for a particular purpose. Some of those she suggests include:

• Online. Use your favorite search engine to look for the type of training you need. Chances are that some organization or company is offering it. Type the word 'free' with the search term you're using to find no-cost training resources. Companies like Spiceworks offer free training to their users.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). The SBA has a training portal on its website, with links to training and information on government contracting, starting a business, surviving a slow economy, and many other areas. Regional SBDCs have training and seminars to help business owners survive and thrive. Many government agencies have training resources on their websites.
• Colleges and universities. Many colleges and universities offer low- or no-cost training through their continuing education departments. Some may offer free or low-cost lectures on various aspects of running a business.
• Trade associations. Look for resources and recommendations through your industry associations and trade magazines. Trade magazine websites may offer white papers or webinars.

In some cases, you may need more specialized training that requires a larger investment. But Sieczka advises starting with low-cost solutions first to build basic understanding of the topic and to test the effectiveness of that training before spending a lot of money on something that you might not need.