Extra Mile Training - IC3 Courseware & Test Centre - Advanced Training for MS Office & MYOB

"Happy employees are productive employees" - and most managers and staff would agree that this is the case. But what can businesses offer their workforce in order to make sure that both individuals and the company as a whole reap the rewards?

While pay might be an obvious factor, most workers will admit that the promise of a salary hike might encourage them to work harder, it wouldn't necessarily make them happier in their jobs. Employees in today's candidate driven market are equally interested in gaining new skills and refreshing their existing ones as they strive to progress their careers.

Businesses list the problems of attracting the right staff as a restriction to growth. There are complaints about the standard of education provided by schools. Discussions on providing the right training that delivers the right skills for businesses rages on with the government Ministry responsible for tertiary education, but progress is slow and in the meantime we languish in the bottom half of the OECD productivity tables.

There is one initiative that will get the ball rolling and increase productivity across all sectors and that's sound basic computer skills. In all the discussions on productivity and our desire to create a "Knowledge Economy", no one has highlighted the importance of sound basic computer skills and its effect on staff performance.

New Zealand has a great reputation for being quick to take up new technology but do we know how to use it properly! Each business has a mixture of skills and ages but whether young or old everyone today needs to have solid computer skills to be productive in their work. Have you ever spoken to your staff to find out the level of their computer skills? How would they know? Most people are aware that they have gaps in their knowledge but don't know what they don't know.

Businesses invest a lot of money in computer technology but they never check whether staff can use it effectively. It is a bit like buying a Ferrari and letting your nephew who has just passed his driving test take it for a spin.

Employees' rate professional development as a key reason for working for a particular business but what computer skills training do you provide that will genuinely benefit the business and the employee? How do you know if it has been successful? Computer training can be expensive and it can be hard to measure results.

There is a solution to both these problems that will provide the necessary skills and give a clear benchmark for individuals and companies.

The IC3. The IC3 delivers basic, transferable computer skills that are required both in the workplace and life in general.

The IC3 comprises of three modules (course outline here), covering areas such as; basic concepts in IT, using the computer and managing files; word processing; spreadsheets, databases; presentations, and information and communication.

The IC3 is recognised in 135 countries around the world so the same certification and exacting standards are maintained whether your employee obtains their qualification in NZ, UK, Ireland, Finland, America, China or Australia. This provides your employee with an internationally recognised qualification and your business with the same skills that are available to your overseas competitors.

Some of the advantages IC3 offers a business are:

Measures training results
Provides a computer skills inventory
Improves pay-back on IT investments
Reduces technical support queries
Increases IT quality and productivity
Provides a benchmark for employee recruitment
Increases staff retention

Overseas studies into the introduction of IC3 in companies revealed substantial cost savings through increased productivity.

Additional benefits of IC3 include:

Increased Confidence: 100% of basic users report being much more confident as a result
Support Required: Over 80% of learners say that they now rarely needed help with applications
Return On Investment: Figures indicate that the initial investment can be recouped easily within 6 months to a year

IC3 training is self-paced so it can be used for all staff regardless of their current skills. The courseware is available either on CD or online via the web, which provides flexibility and allows employees access to the course at work or at home. There is no need for staff to be absent for long periods while attending off site training sessions. The more computer proficient employee can work through the course quite quickly; filling in any gaps in their knowledge while a beginner can take their time without feeling under pressure.

As employees increase their knowledge, their confidence grows, which is reflected in their attitude and performance. So often training is put in the too hard basket by small or medium-sized businesses, this can affect their ability to attract good staff. By introducing IC3 as the standard for your business, you can show your commitment to your staff and to your customers. You can become a company that people want to work for.

There are other benefits to gaining the IC3 qualification. Outside of the work place people feel more confident with their families. Children learn about computers at school but often have trouble talking about their studies because parents may have limited computer skills. Communication is greatly improved when parents can talk to them on the same level. They can also participate more in the move to Internet based services whether it is Government departments, banking or Trade Me. There is no point having access to faster broadband services if we don't even have the basic skills to use it effectively.

Employing new staff is difficult with a shortage of good candidates. IC3 can help. Find a candidate with the right attitude and you can train them to meet your criteria using IC3 to provide the computer skills element of the training. By taking this approach you will gain an employee who appreciates your belief in their potential.

Call on (09) 476 1325 to find out how we can help to boost productivity at your company.