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Customised Training Increases Efficiency From Sussex Enterprise paper "Research into the Skills & Training Concerns of Sussex Businesses": The main barriers to training include: investment and the amount of time staff spend out of work. Businesses need to undergo a cultural change and use long-term training plans, which will help reduce staff. Businesses prefer to use private (commercial) training providers due to their responsiveness, flexibility and ability to tailor courses. Make Training Relevant Owain Davies, Managing Director of Spencer Davis Engineering, urges companies to review their skills base before they make decisions about technology. "Walk before you can run," he says. "It's all very well investing in the tools, but you have to make sure you know how to use these tools efficiently. Don't let the systems run away with themselves." Set goals for the training - such as improving customer service or cutting costs. Agree specific, measurable objectives for what you want to achieve, such as greater throughput of work or a reduction in customer complaints. Compare the costs of training (including the cost of having staff unavailable during the training period) with the potential benefits, such as greater efficiency and improved capacity. Conduct a skills audit - what skills do you have in-house; what is the level of staff capability; and what level do they need to reach?