Workforce data will enable you to look at your learning provision as a whole, in teams or departments, and to consider the skills, knowledge and attitudes of those already on your staff and of those you decide to recruit. The time taken to compile the information is well worth the effort and there are tools available – Organisational Needs Analysis (ONA) and Training Needs Analysis (TNA), both of which are often used in the public and private sectors – that are now widely used in the further education sector.

The skills, knowledge and attitudes of your staff have to match the needs of learners, employers, funders and the wider community. They also have to meet the requirements of the areas covered in the DEFINE pages: equality and diversity, health and safety, employment law and quality assurance.

Workforce development has to be paid for as part of the organisation’s overall budget. The Excellence, Innovation and Improvement Fund may list possible sources of help with funding workforce development. This website indicates other sources of support.

The following pages focus on:

• organisations and teams
• individual staff
• external needs
• specific types of learning provider