Business Leader: Staff Training Is Part of Competitiveness, With EU Support Covering Up to 70% of Costs
In an opinion piece published by Delfi, Ilze Zuimača urges Latvian companies, especially food producers, not to postpone employee training. She points to EU co-financing of up to 70% of training costs and an example from the company Rīgas dzirnavnieks.
In an opinion piece published by Delfi, Ilze Zuimača discusses whether Latvian companies can afford not to invest in employee development. The text focuses mainly on the food production sector, and the author argues that training should be seen as part of a company's overall development strategy rather than just an HR department activity. The article reflects the author's view, which may differ from the editorial position of Delfi.
Why training gets postponed
The author notes that employee development often ends up at the bottom of the priority list. The return on modernising equipment or digitalisation is easier to calculate, while the result of training is not visible right away. In her view, new technologies, such as modern production lines or artificial intelligence solutions, do not deliver the expected results without employees' knowledge.
What training gives a company
She lists several benefits: knowledge fosters innovation, helps companies adapt to change faster, helps retain and motivate staff, and can ease labour shortages, since it is sometimes more effective to develop an existing employee's skills. To the concern that a trained employee will leave, she answers with a counter-question: what happens if employees are not trained and they stay?
Example: Rīgas dzirnavnieks
The company Rīgas dzirnavnieks, a member of the Latvian Food Union (Latvijas Pārtikas uzņēmumu federācija), decided to improve its employees' English after an international company became its shareholder. Tatjana Opriško, head of finance at the company, says employees now take part in meetings with group colleagues more confidently and communicate with foreign clients and suppliers. The courses were held in three groups by skill level.
EU co-financing
In Latvia, EU-backed co-financing for employee training is available. Under the LPUF project "Bioeconomy and Related Sectors Training", large companies can have up to 50% of costs covered, medium-sized ones up to 60%, and micro and small companies and the self-employed up to 70%. The training areas are broad, from production and quality management to digital skills, marketing, languages and programming.
The author concludes that training should become a regular part of a company's operations.
