In-House VS Public Training: The Complete Guide

As part of finding the best possible trainer and measuring learning effectiveness, businesses must also decide between in-house and public training. 

Each option offers its own advantages and disadvantages, and in this guide, we compare them side-by-side, ending with an alternative suggestion that combines the best of both. 

Let’s begin. 

In-house training

In-house training are company-specific programs designed and delivered within the organisation itsel, typically customised to align with the company’s unique goals, processes, and challenges.

There are of course numerous types of in-house training, including:

• Leadership training: Develops leadership based on company processes and management style.
• Sales training: Tailored to improve sales techniques, which can include both external and in-home sales.
• Customer service training: Enhances customer relations and service excellence.
• Project management training: Improves project management skills in line with company standards.
• Food handling training: Equips employees with necessary skills and knowledge to handle food safely and comply with industry regulations

Benefits

1. Customisation: In-house training is tailored to the company’s specific needs, ensuring practical, real-world applications that solve problems.
2. Cost-effective for large teams: Training up to 30 employees at once helps save on travel and accommodation costs.
3. Flexibility: Companies schedule training at their convenience, minimising disruptions.
4. Team building:Employees learn and collaborate together, strengthening team bonds.

Drawbacks

While in-house training has many advantages, there are also some drawbacks that businesses should consider.

1. Limited Development: A company-specific focus limits employee exposure to broader learning opportunities, affecting career growth and competitiveness.
2. High Costs for Small Teams: In-house training can be expensive for smaller groups, with costs per person rising significantly when fewer employees participate.
3. Time-Intensive: Developing and delivering custom training takes time and resources, especially for companies without a dedicated Learning and Development team.

Public training

Public training refers to enrollment programs and sessions by third-party training providers. 

They are typically open to participants from various companies and industries and a session can be attended by up to hundreds of people, with each participant paying individually

Benefits

1. Access to expertise: Public training is almost always led by industry experts, exposing employees to skills and techniques not typically available in-house.
2. Networking opportunities: Participants from various organisations connect, expanding professional networks and gaining diverse insights.
3. Fairly flexible options: Public trainers offer multiple formats and time slots, allowing employees to select one which fits their schedules.

Drawbacks

• Lack of Customisation: Public training is generalised and may not meet specific company needs.
• Higher Costs: Training multiple employees can be expensive, with costs typically ranging from RM1,300 to RM1,500 per person per day, making it less cost-effective than in-house training.

Best of both: In-house training + external trainers

For a balance between custom content and external expertise, in-house training by external trainers allows bringing in expert trainers to deliver tailored programs to employees.

Key benefits

• Customisation: The topics can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the company’s industry or business objectives.
• Cost efficiency: The cost of hiring an external trainer for an in-house session is RM6,000 per day for up to 30 employees, making it a more affordable option when training large teams. This works out to about RM200 per employee, compared to the RM2,600 per head for a two-day public course.
• Relevant expertise: By using external trainers, companies get access to the latest industry knowledge while ensuring the content remains directly relevant to their employees’ day-to-day roles.

This hybrid approach offers the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of in-house training, while still benefiting from the specialised knowledge of external trainers.

;This is a good time to mention that MISHU provides this type of service, and yes, it’s HRDF certified and claimable under SBL Khas!

Let MISHU help with your employee training needs

With multiple HRD Corp Certified Courses under SBL-Khas, MISHU’s team of dedicated trainers and coaches are ready to help you provide targeted corporate training for every level of talent in your organisation, from executives to C-suites.