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Training manager
Hours
30-40 per week
Starting salary
£19,000 + per year
If you've got excellent communication and presentation skills, and you enjoy helping people to learn and develop, this job could be perfect for you.
Training managers organise and manage training programmes within an organisation. They make sure staff gain and develop the skills they need to carry out their jobs effectively.
In this job you would need to be able to relate to all levels of staff. You will need a very organised approach. You will also need to plan ahead and manage your time effectively.
Many training managers have previous experience as a training officer. There are degree courses in related subjects like business studies, and professional courses in training and learning, which could help you to get into this job.
WorkDesc
The work
Training managers design and coordinate training that covers the organisation's present and future needs.
Your day-to-day tasks could include:
- consulting with other managers to identify training needs
- drawing up an overall training plan to meet these needs
- managing a training budget
- producing materials for in-house training
- working with training providers to develop suitable course content
- evaluating the success of individual training and the overall programme
- managing regular staff appraisals and reviews and making sure staff have opportunities for ongoing development.
In a smaller organisation you may also deliver some of the training.
HoursDesc
Hours
Your working hours would usually be 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. You may sometimes need to be more flexible, for example to cover residential courses or workshops, or if your organisation has a shift system.
You would be office-based, but may be expected to travel between company sites or to training venues, such as hotels or conference centres.
IncomeDesc
Income
Training managers can earn between £19,000 and £40,000 or more a year. Training directors or senior training managers working for a large organisation can earn up to £50,000 or more.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You would usually need experience as a training officer before becoming a training manager. It could be an advantage if you have a degree or postgraduate qualification in a subject such as business studies, human resources or communications.
If you do not have a degree, you may be able to work your way up from a training officer or personnel position by gaining experience and a professional qualification such as those offered by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) – see the further training and development section below.
Many people join the training department from other departments in a company, and work towards training qualifications.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you are working in a training department, you could complete Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualifications, which are available as awards, certificates and diplomas at foundation, intermediate and advanced levels. You can study part-time, by block release or by distance learning.
Depending on your qualifications, you can join the CIPD at Associate and Chartered level. CIPD membership is valued by employers, so could be useful for your career development.
The CIPD also runs a Professional Development Scheme (PDS).
See the CIPD website for details of:
- Level 3 Certificate in Training Practice
- Level 3 Award in Learning and Development Essentials
- Level 3 Certificate in Learning and Development Practice
- CIPD membership
- the PDS.
You can also complete postgraduate diplomas and MSc degrees in training management or training and development, usually by part-time study or distance learning.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To be a training manager you should have:
- the ability to relate to staff at all levels
- excellent communication skills
- organisational skills
- planning and time management skills
- the ability to encourage and motivate people
- presentation skills
- good influencing and negotiating skills
- the ability to write reports, keep records, and work within budgets
- good IT skills.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) 
151 The Broadway
London
SW19 1JQ
Tel: 020 8612 6200
www.cipd.co.uk
LSIS Information and Advice
Tel: 0300 303 1877
Email: lluk.advice@lsis.org.uk
www.excellencegateway.org.uk/feadvice
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You can work as a training manager for a variety of employers, including banks, local authorities, the health service, retail organisations and manufacturing companies.
You could also find opportunities with commercial training providers that run courses for other organisations.
Competition for jobs is usually strong.
With experience you may be able to become a freelance trainer or consultant. As there is a growing tendency for companies to bring in outside experts, opportunities for freelance trainers are increasing.
You may find job adverts in the local press or on specific websites (for example):
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The work‐based learning industry is part of the lifelong learning sector, represented by Lifelong Learning UK Sector Skills Council, which also includes: community learning and development; further education; higher education; and libraries, archives and information services. The sector as a whole currently employs over 1.2 million people in a range of educational institutions, as well as public and private sector organisations.
The work based learning industry covers staff working for organisations concerned with the delivery of training and assessment for the workplace. The industry provides work focused learning opportunities relevant to the workplace environment. Staff work for:
- National training providers
- Specialist training providers
- Private sector training organisations
- Voluntary and community local community organisations
- Regional charities
- National third sector bodies
Staff can also work in: the training divisions of other bodies including large employers (such as travel or retail, further education colleges, Local Authorities, Higher Education institutions); or a specialist division within a body (such as a recruitment agency).
Key facts:
- In the industry, there are 41,525 working, of which:
- 30,000 staff in England
- 1,625 staff in Northern Ireland
- 6,900 in Scotland
- 3,000 in Wales
- In England, 36% of the workforce described their main activity as ‘teaching’.
- In England, 62% of the workforce is employed full‐time.
Jobs in the industry include: Head of department, senior lecturer, team leader, curriculum leader, lecturer, teacher, trainer, learning support staff, assessor, and internal verifier.
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are an estimated 2,581 people in the workforce in the region.
East of England – There are an estimated 3,054 people in the workforce in the region.
London – There are an estimated 4,476 people in the workforce in the region.
North East – There are an estimated 1,680 people in the workforce in the region.
North West – There are an estimated 3763 people in the workforce in the region.
South East – There are an estimated 5,347 people in the workforce in the region.
South West – There are an estimated 3,101 people in the workforce in the region.
West Midlands – There are an estimated 2,864 people in the workforce in the region.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 3,133 people in the workforce in the region.
Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 1,625 people in the workforce in the region.
Scotland – There are an estimated 6,900 people in the workforce in the region.
Wales – There are an estimated 3,000 people in the workforce in the region.
Career paths
Further sources
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