The ROI of IT Learnerships: Maximising Return on Employee Development
Did you know that 89% of all companies have already adopted a digital first business strategy, or are planning to do so? How does your business measure against this tide of change? In an ever-evolving realm of technology, investing in IT training development is the new cornerstone to thrive in the digital landscape. With so many professional development programmes on offer, IT learnerships stand out as a suitable solution for both individual and organisational success. These structured training initiatives offer a meaningful way to upskill and empower your workforce with specialised IT knowledge and expertise.
In this blog, we’ll explore the substantial Return on Investment (ROI) that IT learnerships offer. We’ll delve into what IT learnerships entail, their benefits for both individuals and businesses, the long-term advantages they bring, and the array of IT learnership programmes we have available. Ultimately, learnerships can become a pivotal strategy for your business to maximise employee development and organisational growth in an increasingly dynamic tech-centric world.
What is an IT Learnership?
An IT or Information Technology learnership is a learnership that focuses on bettering the technological skills of your staff. This can start from learning the basic entry level computer skills to more advanced procedures such as coding and systems development.
A learnership generally involves both practical and theoretical training so your staff gain a well-rounded learning experience. They can take up to a year to complete and once the learner is declared competent, they will receive a nationally recognized qualification that is accredited with an NQF.
A learnership is a popular choice of training as it is mutually beneficial for you and your employees. You will not only improve areas of your business but also gain valuable tax breaks and benefits from the government. Traditionally, learnerships were set up to lend a hand to previously disadvantaged groups. This includes African, Coloured and Indian groups, that were affected by the apartheid regime. Learnerships therefore give these groups the opportunity to gain an accredited education and better their careers.
What are the benefits of IT Learnerships:
Often, we see staff training as a crippling, excessive expense. However, to be successful and to adapt to the everchanging demands of the business landscape in South Africa it becomes necessary to invest money to see an improvement.
Luckily, there are a wide range of benefits in store for both you and your staff when you choose to enrol them on an IT learnership. Here are a few common reasons below:
For Individuals:
1. Skills Development
This may seem like an obvious one, but an IT skills shortage is a harsh reality in South Africa. According to a recent ICT skills survey, South Africa has a current skills shortage of around 77 000 high value tech workers. However, 300 000 of tech jobs are currently being outsourced to overseas workers.
Therefore, by opening the door to learning new technological skills you can give your staff the opportunity to grow their skills and progress further in their career. They will develop essential skills such as how to use a computer, handle customer enquiries, adapt to different software’s and provide innovative solutions. With these new skills in hand, an employee can contribute better to your business as well as improve their own self-esteem and confidence.
Another benefit to investing in your team is showing them that you value their development, therefore improving their job satisfaction and creating job retention.
2. Adaptability
The reality of being a business owner in this day and age is to learn to adapt to the constant influx of change. This shift will not only affect you but will also add pressure to the productivity of your staff. New programmes, software, social media, artificial intelligence. It’s enough to make anyone’s head spin.
However, giving your staff the knowledge on how technology works, where to find the right resources and developing the confidence to adapt to these changes is the best tool to have in your toolkit. This will open the door for your staff to take on new tasks, feel more motivated and have higher job satisfaction.
3. Problem Solving Skills
One of the best lessons you can learn from technology is how to solve problems. And in business we need problem solvers. Many tech jobs involve anaylsing complex issues and solving them with innovative solutions. By investing in effective IT training your staff with become exposed to issues, develop the knowledge and practical tools they need to solve these problems, keep up with changes in the industry and have the confidence to implement new solutions.
This will give your employees the opportunity to develop a mindset that actively looks for solutions rather than wallowing in problems. Therefore, your staff will not only solve your IT issues but may also solve problems in other areas of your business.
For Businesses:
1. Increased Employee Retention and Morale
94% of employees would stay at a company longer if they were to invest in their growth. But why? Because your employees need to feel stimulated and challenged in their everyday job. Without a clear path for career development and growth, their job may just look like one big dead-end.
However, with training opportunities you can give your employees the chance to better themselves and move forward in their careers. This is especially important when it comes to reducing the turnover of your top performers. Recruiting new staff can be a costly process and can take time before an individual is fully integrated into your company.
2. Innovation and Creativity
It has been scientifically proven that a growth mindset can reap many innovative benefits for your company later down the line. A growth mindset is when you actively look for ways to improve on yourself over time. In a business context this would mean encouraging development through training initiatives, soft skills workshops, and other motivators.
Training, and being actively involved in the developing world of technology, can open up innovation and creativity in the workplace. Tech is known for focusing on problem solving skills, experimentation, and adaptability to change. Some of the best answers to your biggest problems could already be sitting in the minds of your employees. All you have to do is give them the tools to pull it out.
3. Increased Productivity
Often times there are faster and more efficient ways to get a job done. Usually, Information Technology is the answer to providing these desired results. IT training will give your staff the tools to navigate software, hardware, and technical systems more effectively. This includes learning shortcuts, best practices, and more efficient ways of using various technologies. Overall, this will speed up your day-to-day operations and help you get those important projects over the line.
Additionally, well trained staff will have the knowledge to fix any IT issues when they arise, saving you valuable company time. They will be able to trouble shoot and solve problems which will reduce downtime and get your processes back up and running.
How IT Learnerships benefit your business in the long run:
1. Cost savings
But how can you cut costs when you’re investing money into training in the first place? The short answer is mistakes. Most employees and employers can think back to a time when a mistake became detrimental. Not knowing how a software works, digital miscommunication, mistakenly deleting important information or missing an error in a budget. These are common issues that can become costly.
However, with the right training in hand, your staff can become more aware of these issues and reduce the likeliness of them causing a “business-related” disaster. Additionally, you will save money on meeting with consultants, paying for external IT service providers or the drawn-out and often costly recruitment process.
2. Greater Security
Human error is still one of the leading causes of hacks and breaches. Sometimes even a simple phishing email, which is when an employee receiving an email asking for private information by impersonating someone else, can cause colossal damage. This will make your company vulnerable to financial loss, disruption of operations, damage to reputation and loss of sensitive data.
However, with proper technological training you can put an end to this potential nightmare. Your staff will develop a better understanding of common threats or security risks and develop new habits and protocols to protect your company from invasion.
3. Succession Planning and Leadership Development
The best leaders are the ones that step up when needed. Taking time to invest in succession planning and leadership development are catalysts for organisational sustainability and growth. Therefore, by training your staff in valuable IT skills, you can quickly identify emerging talent and potential leaders.
When an opportunity arises where a leader is needed, you will already have a pool of talent to choose from that are familiar with the business and eager to progress in their careers. This will ensure a smooth, pain-free transition that will cut down on recruitment costs and promote positive growth within the company.
What IT Learnerships are available?
At Edge Training we pride ourselves on offering a wide range of IT learnerships so you can find the right learnership to suit your business needs. Here are a few our most popular ones on offer:
1. End User Computing:
Are you needing a learnership that is beginner friendly? Then an End User Computing learnership is the way to go. This learnership focuses on all the important aspects of software, hardware and communication methods needed to operate a computer efficiently. This includes presentation skills such as PowerPoint, word processing such as Microsoft Word, spreadsheet application such as Microsoft Excel, web browsing and emailing.
These skills and attitudes will serve to improve the efficiency and productivity within your business. It lays the perfect foundation for further education, lifelong learning and is suitable for an employee working in a small or large company format.
2. Technical Support:
Technological issues shouldn’t get in the way of your productivity. Now you can say goodbye to time and money lost by investing in a Technical Support learnership. This learnership gives learners the foundational skills needed to solve technological issues and keep operations running smoothly internally and externally.
We cover effective communication, the different types of computer systems, problem solving techniques, teamwork, computer technology principles and so much more.
3. Interactive Media:
Billboards, lamp posts and brochures aren’t going to cut it anymore in the digital age where everything has become increasingly interactive. Now you can get your name out there while staying ahead of the competition with an Interactive Media learnership.
This learnership is suitable for the more creative type and focuses on digital marketing elements. Your staff will learn how to design, create video content, coming up with ideas and solutions, animation, web design, gathering resources and so much more. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to wow your audience like never before.
4. Systems Development:
Set up your business for success with a Systems Development learnership. This training programme teaches your staff how to maintain, create and manage various software systems. Systems Development is a field of study perfect for the problem solvers. It covers programming languages, problem solving techniques, creating computer software, creating a basic website and so much more.
This knowledge will equip your staff with the tools to effectively adapt to a changing digital environment, developing custom solutions, optimizing existing systems and contributing to the innovation of your company.
5. Software Testing:
Are you producing the best, tried and tested products? Now you can ensure that you are producing the best quality products by enrolling your staff in a Software Testing learnership. This programme is structured to product well-trained individuals that can conduct practical investigations into the quality of a software product or service. This will ensure that your software meets business requirements, works as expected and can be implemented successfully.
Your staff will learn about the principles of the Software Development Lifecycle, evaluate requirements and requirements-based test design, execute software testing and manage the testing process.
Next Steps:
Are you ready to advance your business with the help of IT training? Make sure your training process is as smooth and painless as possible by enrolling your staff in an IT learnership with Edge Training. We’ve been training employees, unemployed and disabled individuals for over 22 years and have therefore gained the knowledge needed to create an impactful learning experience. Our training methodology is based on practical applications with the help of case studies, role playing, brainstorming and so much more. Reach out to one of our representatives today to get started on your IT learnership journey.