As the end of the year approaches, now is the ideal time for businesses to review their workforce training requirements and begin planning for the year ahead.
Ensuring employees have the appropriate qualifications, knowledge and skills is essential for maintaining workplace safety, meeting legal responsibilities and supporting business operations.
By planning training requirements in advance, employers can avoid unnecessary disruption, identify potential skills gaps and ensure their workforce is prepared for the challenges of 2027.
Why Is Training Planning Important?
Health and safety training plays an important role in ensuring employees can carry out their responsibilities safely and competently.
Employers have a legal duty to provide adequate health and safety information, instruction, training and supervision.
Regularly reviewing training requirements helps businesses:
Maintain workforce competence and awareness.
Identify qualifications and certifications approaching expiry.
Ensure employees receive appropriate refresher training.
Prepare for upcoming projects and changing responsibilities.
Reduce the risk of accidents and unsafe working practices.
Support compliance with relevant health and safety legislation.
Taking a proactive approach allows businesses to address training needs before they become an issue.
Review Your Existing Training Matrix
One of the most effective ways to prepare for the new year is to review your company's training matrix.
A training matrix provides a clear overview of employee qualifications, completed courses and upcoming refresher requirements.
Employers should check that training records are accurate and identify any certificates due to expire during 2027.
Where training is required, booking courses in advance can help avoid last-minute availability issues and disruption to planned works.
What Training Should Businesses Consider for 2027?
Training requirements will vary depending on the organisation, employee responsibilities and the risks associated with their work.
For businesses operating within construction and other higher-risk industries, courses to consider may include:
1. Site Management and Supervision
Review requirements for Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) and Site Supervisors' Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) courses, including refresher training where applicable.
2. First Aid Training
Ensure sufficient employees hold appropriate first aid qualifications and review upcoming certificate expiry dates.
3. Working at Height
Consider training relating to safe working at height, mobile access towers, mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and other access equipment where relevant.
4. Fire Safety
Review fire awareness and fire marshal training requirements to ensure employees understand fire prevention measures and emergency procedures.
5. Manual Handling
Ensure employees involved in lifting, carrying or moving materials understand safe manual handling techniques and the risks associated with their tasks.
6. Additional Specialist Training
Depending on the nature of the work, businesses may also need to consider asbestos awareness, abrasive wheels, plant operation or other task-specific training.
Plan Ahead to Avoid Disruption
Leaving training until the last minute can create unnecessary challenges, particularly when employees require valid qualifications to access sites or undertake specific activities.
Planning ahead allows businesses to:
Schedule training around existing workloads and project commitments.
Allocate an appropriate training budget.
Arrange refresher courses before qualifications expire.
Identify opportunities for employee development.
Maintain accurate training and competency records.
It is also important to remember that training requirements should be reviewed throughout the year, particularly when employees change roles, new equipment is introduced or working practices change.
Start 2027 With a Competent and Prepared Workforce
The beginning of a new year provides an opportunity to review existing arrangements and identify areas for improvement.
By assessing training needs now, employers can enter 2027 with greater confidence that their workforce has the knowledge and skills required to work safely and effectively.
How Can Combined Safety Solutions Help?
At Combined Safety Solutions, we understand the importance of maintaining a trained and competent workforce.
We can assist businesses in reviewing their training requirements, identifying upcoming refresher needs and exploring suitable training options for the year ahead.
Whether you are looking to arrange individual refresher courses or develop a training plan for your workforce, we can help you prepare for 2027.
Don't leave your training requirements until the last minute. Contact Combined Safety Solutions today to start planning your workforce training for the new year.