Finding time for training isn't always easy.

If you're organising training for your team, you need to fit it around workloads, shifts and day-to-day responsibilities. If you're learning for yourself, you might be balancing a course with work, family and everything else you've already got going on.

Online training gives you more flexibility over when and where you learn, making it easier to develop new skills without always having to commit to a set classroom date.

At Blueprint Training, we offer more than 250 online courses, alongside our classroom and workplace training options, so you can choose a learning option that works for you or your team.

So, what are the benefits of online learning, and when might face-to-face training be a better fit?

Let’s take a look.

What is e-learning? 

E-learning is training delivered online, allowing you to learn from wherever you are and, depending on the course, at your own pace.

What are the benefits of e-learning for businesses?

When you're responsible for training employees, finding the right course is only part of the challenge. You also need to think about when people will complete it, where they'll need to go and how training will fit around their work.

Online learning can make some of those decisions easier.

Here are some of the main benefits for your business and your team.

1. Training can fit around your team (H3)

Getting everyone into the same classroom at the same time can be difficult.

Your employees might work different shifts, be based at different sites or have busy roles where taking a full team away from work isn't practical.

With online training, employees can complete suitable courses around their existing commitments rather than everyone having to attend at the same time.

2. You can open training up to more people

Where your employees work doesn't have to limit the training you can offer them.

If you've got people based at different sites or working remotely, online learning lets them access the same training without everyone travelling to one location.

3. It can reduce some of the costs around training

Sending employees to classroom training can involve more than paying for the course.

Depending on where your team is based, you might also need to factor in:

• Travel
  
• Accommodation
  
• Venue costs
  
• Printed materials
  
• Time spent travelling to and from training
  
  

With online training, your employees can learn from where they are, helping you cut down on some of those additional costs.

4. Employees can learn at their own pace

People learn at different speeds.

One employee might move quickly through a topic they already know something about, while another might want more time to work through the material.

With self-paced online learning, employees can work through a course at a pace that suits them.

5. Develop skills beyond mandatory training

Not all of your team's training will be about mandatory qualifications.

You might want to help someone build confidence in their current role, develop knowledge in a new area, or prepare for more responsibility.

Online learning makes it easier to offer development opportunities without having to organise a classroom course each time somebody wants to build a new skill.

What are the benefits of online learning for learners?

If you're taking a course yourself, online learning can make it easier to study alongside work and everyday life.

Learn around your schedule

You might work full-time, work shifts or have family commitments to think about. With online learning, you can choose when you study rather than having to attend a classroom at a fixed time.

Work at your own pace

Some subjects will click quickly. Others might take a little more time. When your course allows self-paced learning, you can spend longer on the areas you need to without having to keep up with a whole classroom.

Learn wherever suits you

Online learning also gives you more choice over where you study, without having to travel to and from a training centre.

Build your skills while you're working

You don't have to wait until you're looking for a new job to develop your skills.

You can use online training to build knowledge that helps you in your current role, explore a subject you're interested in or start developing skills that could support your next step.

Is online training as effective as classroom training?

It depends on what you're learning.

If your course is mainly knowledge-based, you may be able to learn everything you need online. For practical subjects, you may get more from learning face to face, where you can practise skills and get support directly from your trainer.

For example, our first aid training gives you the opportunity to build confidence through hands-on exercises.

Online vs classroom training: which should you choose?

The right option depends on what you're learning, how you prefer to learn and what you need from the course.

Online training could suit you if:

• You need to fit learning around work or other commitments
  
• You want to work through training at your own pace
  
• You or your employees are based in different locations
  
• You're looking for knowledge-based training that can be completed online
  
  
  

Classroom or workplace training could suit you if:

• You need to practise practical skills
  
• You'll benefit from learning directly with a trainer
  
• Your course involves practical exercises or assessments
• You prefer learning alongside other people
• You want several employees to train together 
  
  

And sometimes, you'll want a mixture of both.

At Blueprint, we offer online, classroom and workplace training, so you can choose what works best for you or your team.

Read more: How to Choose the Right Corporate Training Course for Your Team

How can you make online employee training work for your team?

Choosing an online course is only the first step. You also need to give employees a realistic opportunity to complete it.

Before choosing online training for your team, think about:

What does your team need to learn?

Start with what you're trying to achieve.

Maybe you've identified a gap in someone's knowledge. You might need to meet a workplace requirement, help someone develop in their current role or give an employee the skills they need to take on something new.

Having a clear goal makes it much easier to choose relevant training.

Does the subject work well online?

Think about what your employees need to get from the course.

Knowledge-based training may work well online, while practical subjects can be better suited to a classroom or workplace session where your employees can practise what they're learning.

When will employees complete their training?

Having access to training at any time doesn't mean your employees will automatically have time to complete it.

If you're asking someone to take a course for work, think about how it fits into their workload and when they'll realistically have time to focus on it.

Is the training relevant to their role?

Employees are more likely to see the value in training when they understand how it relates to their job.

Instead of giving everyone the same training, look at what different people, roles and teams actually need.

If you're building a wider training plan, our guide to choosing the right corporate training can help you work out where to start.

What should you look for in an online training course?

With so many online courses to choose from, start by thinking about what you actually want to get from the training.

Before you sign up or book training for your team, ask:

• Does the course cover the skills or knowledge you're looking for?
• Is online learning the right format for the subject?
• Can you fit the course around your schedule?
• What support is available if you need help?
• Will you be able to use what you've learned in your role?
• Does the training provider have experience in the subject you're studying?
  
  

If you're choosing a course for your team, think about how useful it will be in their role and what you want them to get from it.

Explore online training with Blueprint

Whether you're looking to develop your own skills or find training for your team, we offer access to more than 250 online courses across a wide range of subjects.

You can also choose from our classroom and workplace training options when face-to-face learning is a better fit.

Explore our online courses >>

Or, if you're looking at training for your wider team, get in touch to discuss your options.

Online Training FAQs

What is the difference between e-learning and online training?

The terms are often used interchangeably. Both generally describe learning that's accessed digitally rather than delivered solely in a physical classroom.

What are the main benefits of e-learning?

E-learning can make training easier to fit around work and other commitments, allow you to learn from different locations and, depending on the course, let you work at your own pace.

Can employees complete online training around work?

Yes. Self-paced online courses can make it easier for employees to plan their learning around their working day. Employers should still make sure people have enough time to complete any training they're expected to undertake.

Is online learning suitable for every course?

No. Knowledge-based subjects can lend themselves well to online learning, while courses involving practical skills or assessments may be better suited to classroom or face-to-face delivery.

Is online training suitable for businesses with employees in different locations?

Yes. If your employees work across different sites or locations, online training allows them to access the same learning without everyone having to travel to one training venue.

How many online courses does Blueprint Training offer?

We offer access to more than 250 online courses, alongside our classroom and workplace training options.

Should my business choose online or face-to-face training?

It depends on the course and what your employees need to learn. Online training can be useful for flexible, knowledge-based learning, while practical subjects can benefit from classroom or workplace delivery. 

Does online training replace face-to-face learning?

No. Online and face-to-face training suit different types of learning. Online courses can work well for knowledge-based subjects, while classroom or workplace training may be better when practical experience is needed.