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Original poster

Do businesses really not have any budget?

97 replies

outofofficeagain · 26/02/2025 16:07

I have been self-employed for 15 years and recently changed direction, delivering corporate training (well-being and DEI-related). I've done training before, but this is a new area and new target market.

It started well, but over the last few months, I've had nothing. People either do not get back to me at all or coming back with nos.

Is it the time of year? Or is it a terrible time to be doing this?

I can go on for a bit longer but getting very scared that this was all a terrible idea and I should go back to what I was doing before.

OP posts:
HermioneWeasley · 26/02/2025 16:58

Should have said “usually don’t require anything specialist”

Littletreefrog · 26/02/2025 17:09

I work in a firm of accountants a lot of our clients are small to medium businesses and I would say 80% of them are currently trying to work out how to manage the NI increase without having to let people go. So no there isn't any budget at the moment.

bullrushes · 26/02/2025 17:15

It's training around grief and loss and how managers/teams can support their staff in difficult times. So really necessary but not bright and shiny.

That is extremely niche and specific and I don't think many businesses would regard it as "really necessary" I'm afraid. I've been a manager for 25 years and have never had to deal with this.

Universities are really struggling so I doubt even universities which are at the extreme end of "touchy feely" as organisations have budget for external spend on this sort of thing at the moment.

CarefulN0w · 26/02/2025 17:23

I think there is a double whammy of needing to make cuts, and the increased availability of cheaper, online training for mandatory courses.

Online training isn't often good quality but it ticks a box and when money is tight sometimes that has to be good enough.

Velmy · 26/02/2025 17:39

External training, especially non-critical stuff, is going to be eviscerated in the coming years.

Oblomov25 · 26/02/2025 17:40

I agree that the NI increase is the focus for many. Many firms have already considered DEI for the last few years at least, so Loss as part of DEI would only be of interest to a few bigger companies now.
Plus for many businesses they are trying to spend now in March, before YE and budgets start again in April.

Hercisback1 · 26/02/2025 17:41

There's not a real need for this training is there? No wonder you aren't getting bookings.

MyFlightWasAwfulThanksForAsking · 26/02/2025 17:44

As a manager, I'd search online for advice and resources on this if I needed to support my team and internal HR/wellbeing couldn't help me. It's not something you need specific training on IMO.

Original poster
outofofficeagain · 26/02/2025 17:46

Looks like I should be looking for a job then.

OP posts:
EasternStandard · 26/02/2025 17:47

Economic climate and Trump changing DEI rhetoric

Sounds like a tough combination for you op

Sanch1 · 26/02/2025 17:50

I work for a massive multi national and we've had a stop on all training until Q2 2026! Plus all our EDI and well-being training is produced as videos by in house teams, not delivered in person by a third party.

blueshoes · 26/02/2025 18:02

outofofficeagain · 26/02/2025 17:46

Looks like I should be looking for a job then.

I think you should hedge your bets and start looking for a job now, rather than wait for some budgets to re-open.

Sorry, it is tough times.

stanleypops66 · 26/02/2025 18:04

What are your qualifications? Can you diversify?
I agree with others about DEI. It's a poisoned chalice atm. Your other area is very niche. Can you offer more 1:1 services to staff experiencing grief?

Original poster
outofofficeagain · 26/02/2025 18:14

stanleypops66 · 26/02/2025 18:04

What are your qualifications? Can you diversify?
I agree with others about DEI. It's a poisoned chalice atm. Your other area is very niche. Can you offer more 1:1 services to staff experiencing grief?

I'm not a therapist and wouldn't be comfortable offering that without - and don't have the 3 years or money to train.

OP posts:
TweedCoat · 26/02/2025 18:15

Aside from the economic and cultural climate, I'd say your offering is extremely nice.

Having worked in small businesses including as a HR Consultant for 10 years I just can't b see the demand for/interest in what you are offering I'm afraid. Niches/specialisms are good but I think your offering is too narrow.

Lots of businesses will simply be too small to even be interested in this. And the ones that are will likely already be signed up to an EAP and potentially have mental health first aiders in place. The really good ones will already engage occupational health when needed and possibly provide access to counselling either directly indirectly.

During the last 10 years I'd say my average clients had about 50 staff, and on average I'd say perhaps 2 staff per business per year would experience significant bereavements.

I just don't think the market is there for this.

Msmoonpie · 26/02/2025 18:17

I mean it’s not something vital to running the business is it ?

A lot if they do it at all just subscribe to an online one.

With budgets as tight as they are I would expect this and the free fruit rubbish to be the first to go.

Stepfordian · 26/02/2025 18:22

That’s really niche, I can’t imagine many businesses would think it was necessary or something they’d need to pay specifically for.

Quitelikeit · 26/02/2025 18:31

I recently read that the govt is going to make training mandatory for employers around sexual harassment in the workplace

Might be a thought to look that up and offer something on that?

I skim read it but it was roughly that I think

Huskytrot · 26/02/2025 18:35

outofofficeagain · 26/02/2025 16:27

It's not DEI specifically and falls more under wellbeing.

It's training around grief and loss and how managers/teams can support their staff in difficult times. So really necessary but not bright and shiny.

EAPs are great, but only really deal with the person themselves, not everyone around them.

Who are you targeting?

To be honest I think this is high risk. It's all very "nice to have" rather than business critical. You need to hit businesses with the cash and time to burn to send their staff on a course like that.

Are you an expert in the content, or a generic trainer who can deliver other stuff? If I were you I'd expand to first aid or regulations or something else seen as compulsory/value building by businesses.

Or yeah, a job.

Huskytrot · 26/02/2025 18:36

Quitelikeit · 26/02/2025 18:31

I recently read that the govt is going to make training mandatory for employers around sexual harassment in the workplace

Might be a thought to look that up and offer something on that?

I skim read it but it was roughly that I think

Yes this sort of thing is what I meant. Find a topic which is the next hot thing to be mandated and develop content for that.

bullrushes · 26/02/2025 18:38

In order to deliver that sort of training though you really need to be an expert.

blueshoes · 26/02/2025 18:38

Quitelikeit · 26/02/2025 18:31

I recently read that the govt is going to make training mandatory for employers around sexual harassment in the workplace

Might be a thought to look that up and offer something on that?

I skim read it but it was roughly that I think

@Quitelikeit could be referring to this:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-protections-from-sexual-harassment-come-into-force
https://www.acas.org.uk/sexual-harassment/steps-for-employers-to-prevent-sexual-harassment

Sunnysideup4eva · 26/02/2025 18:39

outofofficeagain · 26/02/2025 16:27

It's not DEI specifically and falls more under wellbeing.

It's training around grief and loss and how managers/teams can support their staff in difficult times. So really necessary but not bright and shiny.

EAPs are great, but only really deal with the person themselves, not everyone around them.

This sounds quite niche? Bereavement etc isn't something that's like a really common issue that managers are having to deal with all the time?

blueshoes · 26/02/2025 18:41

bullrushes · 26/02/2025 18:38

In order to deliver that sort of training though you really need to be an expert.

Sexual harassment training is usually conducted by employment lawyers or at a person with at least some form of HR background.

There are also videos out there.

It is not a new thing although the law itself may be new.

CarefulN0w · 26/02/2025 18:41

Quitelikeit · 26/02/2025 18:31

I recently read that the govt is going to make training mandatory for employers around sexual harassment in the workplace

Might be a thought to look that up and offer something on that?

I skim read it but it was roughly that I think

But SH training can be done online. Our team has recently completed it. I'm sorry, but i can't see cash strapped businesses forking out for face to face training.

Sorry OP, it is tough out there.