Staff accommodation can make employees feel professionally valued

No matter what your industry, offering professional development opportunities to staff is paramount these days. With employees increasingly keen to improve their skills, industry conferences are just one way for businesses to offer the most up-to-date training.

Sending your staff to conferences is also good for your business in the long term and, after all, the chance for self-improvement leads to a more skilled, confident and happy workforce.

The greater good

Sending staff to conferences will naturally come at a price, in staff accommodation and other fees. However, businesses can't afford to be short sighted about losing a few days of productivity, with the benefits far outweighing the cost of a little downtime 

Your staff will have the opportunity to take a look at their role through fresh eyes and learn new skills that could benefit your entire business. And with skilled trainers on hand to highlight areas where improvements could be made, staff productivity is often increased.

Add value to your business

To make the most of your investment, you need to ensure that the conference you choose will give your staff the opportunity to learn and add value to your business on their return.

Some smart businesses consult with their staff to determine which professional development opportunities would be most beneficial to their particular roles. Key areas that conferences can cover include:

• Improving time-management skills
• Learning better phone techniques
• Improving sales skills
• Learning about new products and services relevant to your industry
• Developing leadership qualities in staff

Conference accommodation

It's important to ensure that conference accommodation is appropriate for your staff. After all, you don't want them to have to share beds.

When booking conference accommodation, clearly explain that single or twin-share rooms will be required for your staff. It's also worth asking for a corporate rate, as there are often cost savings involved when booking for larger numbers.

Finally, check the meal options available – you don't want staff with special dietary needs having to leave the conference accommodation to buy their meals.

Benefits of sending staff to conferences

• Staff increase their skills and knowledge
• Learning can be disseminated through the wider team
• Staff feel professionally valued
• Increased networking opportunities
• Gives staff a break from the daily grind

Investing in the future

Sending your staff to a conference can have long-term benefits for your business. Not only will your employees improve their skills, making you look good to clients, but your wider team will also benefit from the shared knowledge.

Once you've decided on the right conference, you'll need to find the best staff accommodation. Pick up the phone and make some enquiries today.