Innovative low/no cost personal development opportunities

[UseHerName]

Working in the public sector there isn’t a lot of money for anything or to offer people opportunities for personal development.

Has anyone offered their staff any low cost/free personal development opportunities or opportunities which would only require time off that - I want them feel valued and invested but there’s no money to do that.

Person works in diversity and inclusion and does a lot of writing if that helps. They are about 40, have no professional qualifications, and no desire to get any.

I will ask him too obviously

I've done some good non-certificated work-related courses here:
www.futurelearn.com/

Also
www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue but it's a bit more academic focussed

I lead a very technical team and there are lots of freely available video tutorials related to our subject. I'm in the middle of getting budget approval for people to spend some work time looking at those, and developing new technical things which aren't part of paid projects. Different technical area obviously but maybe something along those lines would be worth considering?

Yes those are good suggestions thank you. I was thinking about time off for a volunteer role such as sitting on a school board of governors - so that there’s a social benefit too. Anyone any ideas along that line?

Anyone else got any inspiration for me?! 😬

Work shadowing of someone else in the organisation to improve their understanding of the organisation. If in Diversity & Inclusion, it could be with a frontline department, or hiring department, to see how your staff member’s work has an impact.

If public speaking is part of their role, time off to participate in Toastmasters. It is cheap to join.

Oh toastmasters actually would be relevant for a another person so thanks for that

You mention school governors - I’m in the public sector, and my organisation lets you have time off to be a school governor. It’s something like 10 days a year. I’ve heard of this in other public bodies too - maybe worth checking if yours does?

They could become a magistrate? most public sector employers give time off to sit as a magistrate for a certain number of days a year

Oh yes all of those time off for public duties activities are a good idea