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For a successful business, you need a viable business idea, the skills to make it work and the funding. Discover whether your idea has what it takes.

Forming your business correctly is essential to ensure you are protected and you comply with the rules. Learn how to set up your business.

Advice on protecting your wellbeing, self-confidence and mental health from the pressures of starting and running a business.

Learn why business planning is an essential exercise if your business is to start and grow successfully, attract funding or target new markets.

It is likely you will need funding to start your business unless you have your own money. Discover some of the main sources of start up funding.

Businesses and individuals must account for and pay various taxes. Understand your tax obligations and how to file, account and pay any taxes you owe.

Businesses are required to comply with a wide range of business laws. We introduce the main rules and regulations you must comply with.

Marketing matters. It drives sales and helps promote your brand and products. Discover how to market your business and reach your target customers.

Some businesses need a high street location whilst others can be run from home. Understand the key factors from cost to location, size to security.

Your employees can your biggest asset. They can also be your biggest challenge. We explain how to recruitment and manage staff successfully.

It is likely your business could not function without some form of IT. Learn how to specify, buy, maintain and secure your business IT.

Few businesses manage the leap from start up to high-growth business. Learn what it takes to scale up and take your business to the next level.

Identifying training needs - checklist

Read our tips on how to identify training needs and keep your staff's skills up to date so they can carry out their jobs effectively

  • Review your business objectives and identify critical activities.
  • Set measurable performance standards - for example, measures of production efficiency or marketing success.
  • Monitor performance to identify problem areas.
  • Get feedback from customers, suppliers and other key business partners. Consider using interviews or surveys in areas such as customer satisfaction.
  • Ask employees to raise concerns and make suggestions for training that could improve output, quality or customer satisfaction in line with your business objectives.
  • Discuss training needs with employees during employee performance management meetings.
  • Identify any dependencies - for example, where only one employee has crucial skills or knowledge.
  • Review any legal requirements such as the requirement for health and safety training.
  • Review any changes you plan or expect (eg new products, procedures or technologies); identify potential weaknesses and problems.
  • Consider how employees? roles may change - for example, your plans to promote individuals and to develop new employees.
  • Prioritise problem areas or areas of weakness.
  • Assess how improving systems or equipment could contribute to resolving problems.
  • Review whether poor performance is due to bad management rather than lack of training - for example, a failure to agree clear objectives and motivate employees.
  • Consider whether your expectations are realistic given the calibre or number of employees available, and if you need to recruit new talent or reassign roles.
  • Assess whether training will be an effective solution, employees? willingness to learn and their preferred learning style.
  • Identify training options (eg job shadowing, distance learning or external training courses); set clear objectives for training activities.
  • Implement a pilot training scheme and review the outcome before rolling the programme out.
  • Consider training champions to disseminate best practise and run in-house training for colleagues.
  • Regularly review the outcome of training to identify further training needs and to assess the effectiveness of your training needs analysis.