Planning your training for 2026

Why it matters and how to get started

It's the time of year when budgets, business plans and big goals for 2026 are being finalised or plans put in place for April spending.

There's one thing we know always slips down the list...training.

Not because it's not important (it's absolutely vital) but because for a lot of smaller companies it's an optional and costly extra, not a priority.

Training should never be just a nice-to-have. It's an INVESTMENT. It saves time, strengthens teams, and protects your business from risk.

Why planning matters now

Leaving training out of your planning and budgeting conversations can limit growth, delay development and affect staff retention. We've talked in our blogs before about how studies literally show that quality training can increase staff retention by huge amounts.

When training is reactive rather than planned it leads to a few different things:

1. Staff rely on guesswork or outdated materials - it can all feel haphazard.

2. Knowledge gaps go unnoticed until something goes wrong.

3. New hires take longer to get up to speed.

4. Engagement and motivation dip because expectations aren't clear.

On the flip side of this, organisations that plan their training early see improved performance and stronger team culture.

It doesn't have to mean a huge investment or complicated systems. It just means making space for it, both financially and strategically.

How to plan your training for 2026

Start simple. You don't need to overcomplicate this and overhaul everything overnight. We've written out some practical steps below to get you started.

1. Carry out a quick training needs analysis. (TNA)

Look at what worked (and what didn’t) this year.

• Where did mistakes happen most often?

• What feedback came up in appraisals or meetings?

• Which areas do staff feel least confident in?

You can capture all of this in a short document or even a spreadsheet, it doesn’t have to be formal.

2. Align training with your 2026 goals.

   If your plans include expansion, new services or technology, your training plan needs to match that. Think about who needs what knowledge — and when.

   
   

3. Budget realistically.

   Training doesn’t need to cost the earth, but it does need to be accounted for. A small, regular investment in high-quality, bespoke digital learning can make a huge impact and reduce costs long-term.

   
   

At Emblem, we help businesses create branded, affordable training materials that can be reused and adapted again and again, future-proofing your investment.

The cost of doing nothing

Let's look at the evidence for a moment shall we.

Employees who don’t receive adequate training are significantly more likely to struggle with the tools and processes they’re expected to use. One study found that as many as 88% of staff feel they don’t receive sufficient training on the apps they use every day, leading to wasted time, frustration and lower productivity.

When training is inadequate, turnover rates rise too. Employees who don’t feel supported in their development often leave for organisations that do invest in their growth. One statistic shows that around 40% of employees without necessary job training will leave within their first year, which can be costly when recruitment and onboarding are factored in.

That matters because replacing staff is expensive: rehiring and training a new employee can cost 1.5 to 2 times their annual salary.

On the flip side, investing in training can improve performance and organisational outcomes. For example, organisations with comprehensive training programmes can see improvements in productivity, studies suggest around 17% higher productivity, and increases in profitability of around 21% compared to those without structured learning.

If you're not sure where to start

We offer free consultations and advice. Whether you want help with a quick training needs analysis, or ideas for making existing materials digital and accessible, we can help you map out your next steps.

Training doesn't need to be complicated - it just needs to be planned.

Ask yourself one question:

What will our team need to know to succeed next year?

If you'd like help answering it, get in touch!

Contact | Digital Learning Solutions | Bespoke Training Solutions | Kent | Emblem