We recently spoke with a previous adult learner of ours, Nichole, who underwent our ‘Training the Trainer’ course, to find out how the course has helped her in her current role.

Hi, I’m Nichole, a Senior Projects Officer at North Somerset Council. Over a year ago, I did the 2 day ‘Training the Trainer’ course at Weston College, which was encouraged to me by my employer, North Somerset Council (NSC), as part of their commitment to staff development.

At North Somerset Council, my role combines technical expertise, change management, and project management, and I am tasked with training colleagues in a variety of subjects. As someone accustomed to wearing many hats, I felt that I needed a solid foundation to help me develop and deliver effective training sessions. Weston College’s ‘Training the Trainer’ course offered the perfect opportunity to hone these skills.

One of the key benefits of the ‘Training the Trainer’ course is the emphasis on building confidence in presenting to groups. I was initially feeling slightly apprehensive about presenting - a very common fear in the workplace! However, the course helped me to realise that the fear of presenting is often much greater than the actual experience; it is never as scary as you originally might think. The course provided a supportive and safe environment that allowed me to practice new skills and step outside of my comfort zone.

One aspect of this course that stood out for me was the guidance of Megan, the course leader. Megan’s approach to teaching helped me to not only understand the mechanics of creating a training program but also see the importance of establishing clear objectives and purpose. I walked out with a much greater understanding of how to create a purpose for the course I had to design in my current role – and this clarity has been crucial for me as I have moved forward in my responsibilities. Megan leads by example and has a lasting impact on those who she teaches!

Taking part in ‘Training the Trainer’ has significantly helped with my development of a training program that I have rolled out across North Somerset Council. Drawing on the templates and techniques I learned, I have created training sessions tailored to my colleagues’ needs. These sessions have been uploaded into the council’s corporate training platform, and I now serve as an instructor. Over the past six months, I have delivered both live and recorded sessions, supported by weekly communications. This combination of formats has earned me a reputation for being not only knowledgeable but also genuinely helpful to my colleagues.

Looking back nearly a year after completing the course, I can say that the skills I gained from ‘Training the Trainer’ have allowed me to create something meaningful for my organisation, as I continue to expand my training program with additional modules. The course was not only helpful for myself, but also for many of my colleagues at North Somerset Council, as there were a large number of us who participated and have benefited from doing so.

I would recommend for anyone who delivers training in their workplace to take a short course to further expand your skills and knowledge, as this increase in your own confidence will help you to make a lasting impact across your organisation.

To look through our available adult courses, click here.