Staff training costs
24 October 2019
Updated June 2025
How much does staff training cost? Chances are you’ve asked this question more than once. With compliance requirements, evolving skills needs and employee expectations all competing for budget, understanding the true cost of staff training is more important than ever. And it isn’t just about the price tag on a course.
Let’s take a practical look at what really goes into the cost of staff training – and more importantly, how UK SMEs can get maximum value without blowing the budget.
The cost of staff training: what you’re actually paying for
There are the obvious direct costs – courses, training providers, software licenses. But hidden behind that are time, disruption, and even opportunity costs. Let’s break it down:
1. Course costs
This is your starting point. Whether it’s in-house, face-to-face instructor-led training, a live virtual course or online compliance training – you’re paying for content creation, delivery and expertise. And prices vary wildly. For growing businesses, using an affordable compliance LMS makes it easy to stay within budget while still meeting your legal obligations.
2. Employee time
When your team are in training, they’re not doing their day jobs. For UK SMEs, every hour counts. Multiply hourly pay by hours spent learning and you’ll see how quickly this adds up. That’s why it’s advisable to look for an online course provider that lets employees learn at their own pace (so they can log in and learn during quieter periods), and offers courses that fit your time constraints while still meeting recognised accreditation criteria, such as being CPD certified or RoSPA assured.
3. Management and admin time
From booking courses to chasing completions and keeping records for audits, someone is spending time running the process – often your HR manager or people manager. That’s where the right UK LMS platform with ready-made compliance content can save you hours of valuable time.
4. Confidence you’re meeting compliance obligations
The cost of not training staff can be steep. Fines for non-compliance with regulations such as GDPR, health and safety or anti-bribery laws can reach tens of thousands. Investing in quality compliance training for small businesses in the UK isn’t just about safety – it’s about financial protection.
5. Staff retention and morale
Training sends a message: we’re investing in you. It boosts morale, engagement and retention. Replacing a team member can cost tens of thousands of pounds in recruitment fees and lost productivity. Strategic L&D is often substantially cheaper. Choosing an easy-to-use L&D platform for small businesses in the UK helps you manage staff development more easily.
How SMEs can make training more affordable
It might seem like a luxury, but mandatory compliance training for UK employees in SMEs doesn’t have to break the budget. Here’s how to keep it lean without losing impact:
Use an LMS built for UK SMEs
Platforms like Staff Skills academy+ are specifically designed for growing UK businesses: simple to use, scalable and packed with ready-made training content. The best LMS for compliance courses in small businesses will depend on your specific needs, so it’s worth comparing providers: what do you need as well as mandatory training? Professional development skills? Personal development courses? Wellbeing and fitness resources? Take time to make the right choice for your company.
Focus on essential compliance training
If you’re tight on budget, prioritise legal must-haves. Think GDPR compliance training for HR managers in UK, health and safety induction training for new employees UK, and anti-bribery compliance training for small business managers UK.
All these courses and more are available with Staff Skills academy+.
Choose an online learning platform
Online compliance training for remote teams and growing SMEs can be substantially cheaper than running in-person training.
Track compliance effortlessly
Still relying on spreadsheets? An LMS with built-in reporting tools means you can review compliance records in seconds, not hours. Save valuable time by automating tracking and reporting and free up your time.
Recommended read: Overcoming overwhelm: two simple steps to help SMEs thrive under pressure.
So, how much does staff training really cost?
More than you might expect, less than you might fear, and always worth it when done well.
By choosing the right compliance training provider for small UK businesses, and a smart, scalable format like our digital training tools UK, SMEs can deliver mandatory compliance training that keeps teams skilled, engaged and compliant – without draining precious resources.
Explore our affordable compliance training for UK SMEs and see how simple it can be to do things properly.
Need advice on where to start? Get in touch – we specialise in helping HR managers and L&D professionals in small businesses simplify employee training and stay compliant – without the stress.
Whether you’re looking to meet legal requirements or grow your team’s skills in person or online, at Staff Skills academy+ we’re here to help. Our customised LMS makes it simple to assign training, track progress and upskill your workforce. And our range of 700+ CPD and RoSPA-certified courses covers everything from mandatory compliance training to industry-specific knowledge, plus an extensive suite of soft skills courses to boost employee performance.
We’ve also recently launched our new Wellbeing hub. Clients can now access a library of movement classes from fitness industry leader Les Mills, and mindfulness and meditation classes from mental health platform, MindLabs. Clients now have everything they need to upskill and retain their staff. Could we be the right fit for your business? Why not have a look and see what we do, or book a call with one of our team today.
