With a potentially penny-pinching year ahead, we asked Cheryl Taylor to trawl the net for quality and cost-free training materials. She came up trumps with this guide to free management and business training resources. If we've missed any gems, post a comment below or send an email to [email protected]
Free Management Library
The library provides easy-to-access, clutter-free, comprehensive leadership and management resources. Over 650 topics spanning 5,000 links. Topics include the most important practices to start, develop, operate, evaluate and resolve problems.
Changingminds
This claims to be the largest site in the world on all aspects of how we change what others think, believe, feel and do. There are over 3,000 pages including: how to delegate, motivate, persuade, make decisions, become more assertive, manage a classroom and win at interviews. Plus, scores of team building exercises and games, quizzes, dinner party games and brainstorming.
Reviewing
100+ ways to review, experience and transfer learning - actively, creatively and effectively. A useful resource for teachers and trainers. Downloads include a basic toolkit for reviewing.
Business Training Works
Free training resources on etiquette, communication, writing. Icebreakers, introductions and hellos for teachers, trainers and facilitators have been designed add excitement and variety to training. Both new icebreakers and variations on timeless classics are included.
Trainer Bubble
A virtual treasure-chest of training materials, management documents, models and tools for all your business development needs. Some great icebreakers, energisers, training games, team building and PowerPoint games, quotes, puzzles and quizzes.
The Development Company
A range of free training resources including business training tips, training resources and free management training resources. Includes:
Train the trainer: The eight stage easy guide to designing a training session; recruitment and selection; behavioural interviewing; the one minute guide to what behavioural interviewing is; and how to design behavioural questions. you will also find: interviewer's tips on preparing for a recruitment and selection interview; a staged process for best practice interviewing for selection; management development: 12 tips for becoming a successful manager.
Coach and Courses
If you want an alternative use for a gabion basket, or to find out what an osintot is, or to link to a resource that is helping people to define and improve processes, visit this site. It is packed with useful training exercises, brainteaser tests and coaching models. There’s also an ebook that contains all you need to set up and run a SWOT analysis.
Skills Converged
Using the training resources on offer, you are given the opportunity to design your own course based on your clients' needs and focus on delivering an effective and valuable training session. A huge collection of free team building exercises, energisers, icebreakers and communication exercises are on offer, which can be used in different soft skills training courses.
Eleap – Learning Management Systems
Easy to use free training and elearning resources. Build your own elearning and business training knowledge and library. Downloads include: how to stretch your training budget; how to stay competitive; how to create and track online training using training software; what does it take to retain employees?
Learn Direct Scotland for business
This site offers a variety of resources to help your company set up, implement and sustain its training plan. You can access free resources by clicking the links on the right hand side. Resources cover topics including management; performance and personal development; training coaching and mentoring; finance; legislation; recruitment and employment. Each package contains fact sheets, workbooks and concise briefing notes relevant to the chosen topic. You can download as many resources as you want, all for free.
The Voluntary Sector Training Unit(VSTU) website has free downloadable training materials ranging from chairing meetings, to customer care to presentation skills, disability issues and employers to Access and PowerPoint. Go to the website and click on "training materials".
See our guide to free team building resources. There will be more free resources to follow in the series soon.
