opinion
The benefits of structured training extend beyond just acquiring “hard skills” for prospects and their employers.
Are you investing in junior staff?
The benefits of training, for both young talent and their employers, go far beyond acquiring the ‘hard’ skills needed for the role at hand, which is of course important.
And I’ve been thinking about these broader benefits lately as Nabs nears the end of this year’s Fast Forward training program.
We’ve been running the course since 1999, after it was founded by industry giant Jeremy Bullmore as a pitching course, where participants meet to answer a real brief and then face a panel of eminent judges. I’ll submit it.
This year we had 53 outstanding participants. Each of us is full of potential, and we hope that after several weeks of intensive training, we will realize that potential.
On the night of the Fast Forward announcement, I was struck by the passion and motivation of the attendees as they heard from our client, GambleAware. The questions after the briefing demonstrated the curiosity and knowledge that we as an industry absolutely want to foster. Their pitching after that was really impressive.
focus on mental health
Learning to pitch remains the core of the course. However, recently its scope has expanded. We are currently looking at this course, like all of our services, from a mental health perspective.
We recognize that pitching can be stressful, and throughout the program participants will be provided with tips to manage their mental health.
From the start of the six-week course, participants will think about how they can support themselves and those around them, and how they can ask for support. Participants are encouraged to check in with themselves throughout and contact their course mentor or nub if they need a listening ear.
It was clear that participants were also benefiting from the course in other ways to improve their mental health.
They made new connections and expanded their networks. Of course, many studies have shown that social connections improve mental health. Participants also get a boost from knowing their boss has invested in them by choosing them for the course. This is a healthy dose of recognition that is good for the soul, self-esteem, and motivation.
These benefits have surprisingly positive and long-lasting effects. Some participants go on to successful careers and return as course mentors.
feeling of being invisible
Unfortunately, what we learned from recent community consultations is that all years, many young people in our industry feel untrained, uninvested, and not even seen in the room. Additionally, these employees may feel they lack support for their mental health at work. In total, 35% of respondents said they would be concerned about disclosing mental health issues at work.
The combination of these factors can lead to unhappiness and dissatisfaction at work, and even serious mental health issues. A recent study by the Resource Foundation found that workers in their 20s are more likely to lose their jobs due to illness than those in their 40s.
Hybrid working further impacts the situation, as early in your career you don’t have time to meet face-to-face with senior leaders from whom you can learn.As one all years Respondents said: Not learning on the job means not acquiring skills, so young workers’ confidence levels are low, which affects their contribution. ”
We need to do everything in our power to turn this situation around, and training is an important tactic we can employ. And indeed, hybrid working presents us with an opportunity here, underscoring the urgency and importance of structured training. As another study respondent told us, relying on learning by osmosis alone is lazy and requires an intentional approach to training.
It is important to invest in the development of promising talent. However, many rising stars in our industry do not receive the systematic training they deserve and suffer professionally and mentally as a result.
Let’s unite across the industry to solve this problem. Click here to register your talent for Fast Forward 2025.
Uzma Afridi is Chief Business Psychologist at Nabs
