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It’s hard being a manager today, which might be why so many free management courses are available now.
In 2023 and beyond, management is a minefield. Managers need to be familiar with a range of topics, many of them they have never had to deal with before.
The world today needs managers to be adept in hybrid working, environmental and sustainable practices, intuitive and educated in equality, diversity and inclusion, and brilliant at budgeting.
Therefore, training needs updating frequently as business, technology and cultures are evolving quicker than ever.
You might have found yourself Googling some form of free online training course in the past. If that’s you, you’re not alone.
Free online training is a quick way to temporarily upskill.
And, if you’re concerned with staying up to date with learning and development, then rest assured, you’re exactly the right kind of person to be a manager.
There are some reputable training providers who create great courses so that businesses can develop and thrive.
Unfortunately, though, there may be some less reliable ones that may not have a business’s best interests at heart!
But with so many free management courses available, how do you know which provider to go with?
First up, here’s why managers should consider training courses regularly.
The benefits of regular training for managers
Management training is for people who want to improve their leadership abilities. Those managers can then motivate and equip their employees with the tools they need to learn and develop.
Continuous learning is important for personal and professional growth. Management courses can contribute to self-development by improving critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and overall managerial effectiveness. They also demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and development, which can be attractive to employers and open doors for advancement opportunities.
Managers can sometimes get caught up in the day-to-day operations of their own teams or departments. Offering a broader perspective, courses can expose them to different industries and management styles. This broader perspective can help managers approach challenges with a fresh mindset and explore new ideas and approaches.
There is a growing number of techniques, frameworks, strategies and processes that are being theorised and implemented by leaders around the world. Learning about these can enhance a manager’s skillset and widen their perspective. Often, these techniques will focus on aspects such as communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and team building.
Staying up to date with the latest industry trends and best practices is a must. Courses often incorporate case studies and real-world examples that reflect current challenges and opportunities faced by modern organisations.
Management courses offer opportunities to connect and collaborate with other professionals in similar roles. Building a network of peers and learning from their experiences can provide valuable insights and perspectives. It could even lead to future collaborations or career opportunities.
Overall, management courses offer a structured and comprehensive way for managers to develop and refine their skills, stay relevant, and expand their professional network.
Skills required to be a good manager
Managers should have skillsets, knowledge and experience in an array of areas. Good free management courses will touch upon all of these skills, or cover one or more in depth.
1. Finances and budgeting
Learning to make better financial decisions is key during a cost-of-living crisis. The ability to budget will help the company manage its finances. Managers will be better able to understand the financial impact of their actions on the company as well as understand reports and forecasts.
2. HR and recruitment
HR knowledge helps with the hiring process. Recruitment can be costly so it’s important to hire the right person for the right role. HR training will help managers find and interview the best candidates and develop them with coaching and mentoring skills. They’ll also learn how to manage employee performance and learn about legal requirements such as healthy and safety, and equal opportunities policies.
3. IT and digital
Digital skills are essential in today’s managers. With IT skills, managers can streamline processes to improve efficiency and productivity. Understanding how to manage and analyse digital data will also be beneficial to the company and its clients/customers and partners.
4. Soft skills
Soft skills encompass things like teamwork, communication, collaboration, and organisation. Without these soft skills, managers may find it difficult to build positive relationships with their employees and achieve company and personal goals.
5. Project management
As a manager, it’s important you appear as a stable figurehead in the business internally as well as to outside customers and partners. Project management training will help to maintain this. Courses in this area can enhance customer service, quality assurance and controlled costs.
6. Sustainability
For the benefit of the environment as well as staff and company profits, sustainable practices in business are a top priority. Training in sustainability will help managers to manage resources effectively, avoiding unnecessary cost or waste. These courses will help managers to review workplace processes and policies and motivate teams to follow suit.
7. Hybrid working
Many companies have experienced the benefits of working from home. But now it's time to manage it more effectively as it becomes more commonplace. Managers need to be great at engaging their teams and leading virtually. Training can help to enhance communication channels and emotional intelligence.
8. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
When all members of a team feel connected, appreciated, and understood, they’re able to achieve more together and individually. Managers should ensure fairness and transparency throughout their leadership and avoid discrimination. A course in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) will help managers create spaces for all employees to learn and grow.
9. Mental health
The ability to recognise ill mental health in employees will allow teams to feel safe and heard. Taking a course in mental health will show employees you care about their welfare. It will help you to identify issues and how to approach them, even when the subject matter may be difficult to address.
10. Innovation
Being innovative could help to change organisations for the better. This kind of training is about thinking in different and new perspectives, seeking answers and keeping up to date with the latest technology.
11. Marketing
Businesses need great marketing in order to survive, whether that’s word-of-mouth, advertising or PR. When managers understand the various channels and psychology of marketing, they can create a loyal customer base. This can help improve customer satisfaction and attract new talent.
Free management courses and providers
Management training is available for free at many of the UK's universities. There are also many trustworthy independent providers who work with education providers and industry experts to create their courses.
However, some of these courses may require payment at a later date or have limited availability.
We've compiled a list of the top free courses and course providers in management development.
Future Learn
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses?filter_category=8&filter_course_type=sponsored&filter_availability=started
Training with FutureLearn is quick, simple, and colourful. Choose from thousands of online courses from top universities and specialist organisations. We’ve provided the link to their free short online courses in business and management. These courses cover a range of topics from safeguarding to social change.
Udemy
https://www.udemy.com/courses/business/management/?price=price-free&sort=popularity
Instructors at Udemy are real people who take the time to share their expertise with students all over the world. You can search for the course you need and find an instructor you like the sound of. There are currently 265 results when searching for ‘management courses’.
National Careers Service
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/find-a-course/where-to-find-free-online-learning
The Government’s National Careers Service provides digital, IT, business and finance courses. They also have a range of maths, English and social care courses for free too. As well as online only providers, you might also find courses with:
● state funded colleges and training organisations
● universities - you can search UCAS to find these
● large employers in a range of sectors like finance, IT, business and engineering
The Open University
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue
The ‘money and business’ section on The Open University’s website has a listing of courses that are categorised into introductory, intermediate and advanced. This well-recognised provider has courses from ‘Challenging ideas in mental health’ to ‘Using data to aid organisational change’.
London Academy of Business Management
https://labm.co.uk/course/free-business-management-courses/
The LABM is a global awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual. Their free business management courses come from some of the UK’s most prestigious universities. You can find courses on workplace harassment, equality and diversity, digital skills, customer service and more.
Free Courses in England
https://freecoursesinengland.co.uk/free-online-business-courses/
You can gain lifelong business skills and accredited certificates with this series of free online courses. They have everything from coding to warehousing and storage.
Free courses online
https://freecoursesonline.co.uk/free-online-business-courses/
HM Government funded, Free Courses Online covers health and social care, business and digital sectors. They provide environmental training through to cyber security and business administration.
Conclusion
Just feeling that passion to keep learning and developing is a great managerial trait. Free online management courses in the UK are a quick way to improve your skills and knowledge to get by as a manager.
Remember though that learning is a continual process. It’s important to keep that passion alive by finding courses that are fun and engaging.
Good luck with your managerial journey!