Corporate Training: A Career Boost or an Undervalued Bonus?

Over the past decade, corporate training has become a significant trend. Industries ranging from IT and pharmaceuticals to manufacturing, restaurants, and banking offer various programs and courses to their employees. Among these, corporate English language training stands out as particularly prominent.

Understanding the Value of Corporate Training

I once overheard two IT company employees discussing their benefits. One remarked, “Our company offers a standard package: health insurance and corporate English language training. Nothing special.” This comment underscores a common misconception. How can we transform this undervalued bonus into a crucial and valuable investment?

Planning for Effective Corporate Training

Organizing corporate training typically takes between two weeks to a month. While it may seem straightforward—find an instructor, form groups, and begin—it’s actually more complex. To maximize results and ensure a worthwhile investment, several key questions need to be addressed:

Who needs the training? Is it the company or the employees? Will the acquired skills be applicable in the workplace, or is it merely a bonus that the company doesn’t prioritize? If the company needs English-speaking professionals, which aspect is most valuable: written communication, verbal communication, or reading literature?
Group or Individual Training? Determine whether the training will be conducted in groups or individually.
Format of Training: Will it be online, offline, a mix of both, or include webinars and practical projects?
Relevant Program: Choose between a general communicative course, business English, or English for Specific Purposes (ESP) such as medical, technical, hospitality, or IT English. Even within IT, different roles like system administrators, developers, and project managers require tailored programs. Recently, Soft Skills programs focusing on public speaking, presentations, networking, intercultural communication, negotiation, and persuasion skills have gained popularity.
Program Duration and Intensity: Define the start and end dates, the number of hours and sessions per week or month, and the number of stages or levels. Set clear goals to be achieved within specific timeframes after completing each module or level.
Quality Control and Evaluation: Decide how the quality and effectiveness of the training will be assessed, whether through testing or the creation of a project or product.
Educational Materials: Determine the materials to be used, such as textbooks, presentations, or platforms. Will they be from renowned British corporations like Oxford, Pearson, or Cambridge, or will they be custom-developed modules or tailored programs specific to the company’s needs? “Malberry Club” has experience developing programs for startup participants, casino employees, and bank staff.
Instructors: Consider whether the instructors will be local or native speakers from countries like the USA, Canada, or the UK. Assess the importance of their business or IT experience, education, and academic degrees in communication.
Motivation and Accountability: Establish forms of motivation and reporting.
Location and Timing: Determine where and when the training will take place—on the client’s premises, at the school or club, during work hours, or before/after work.
Pricing: Understand how the price is formed and whether factors like the number of groups, session intensity, and resources affect it.
Payment: Clarify who will pay for the training—the company fully or partially by the employees.

The Importance of Preparation

Based on our experience, the more thorough the preparatory stage, the better the results. The organization of corporate training typically involves several specialists from both the client company and the provider company. On our side, the provider company, several specialists participate:

Methodologists who test the client’s employees, form groups, select instructors, develop programs and tests, and oversee control.
One or more instructors.
Directors or accountants who handle financial control.

Bonuses and Advantages

When ordering corporate training at “Malberry Club,” there are additional bonuses. We organize free online or offline club events, extra sessions with native speakers, access to the club’s library, discounts for employees’ children to study at the club, and assistance in selecting language study programs abroad. We help choose online and offline courses in the UK, USA, Europe, and Canada.

Corporate training offers numerous advantages: employees save time, multiple specialists work on the program, and there are always alternative solutions if something doesn’t meet expectations. At “Malberry Club,” we train employees not only in English but also in Russian as a foreign language, Soft Skills, and prepare projects and training for specific tasks such as presentations and speeches. We have trained employees from diplomatic missions, IT companies, medical and manufacturing companies, casinos, and many others.

For more information on corporate training, visit the Pearson website.