9 instructor-led training examples from real training providers + key takeaways for your business

Recently updated on July 19th, 2024

Visualizing the effectiveness of any type of training is easier to do when you have examples to draw inspiration from. Its with this in mind that we’ve put together this collection of different instructor-led training examples to show you some of the different ways training providers are facilitating this type of training and some key insights from these examples that you can apply to your training business.

1. Small Group Classes – Featured Example: Taye Training

Instructor-led training excels in small group settings. When there are fewer learners (usually around 2-10), each participant enjoys greater access to the instructor. The example below provides an overview of the team building courses offered by Taye Training, a provider offering safeguarding training for charities, criminal justice, and social care organizations in the UK. It showcases some of the strengths of using instructor-led training in small group classes.

The client testimonial refers to the training provided to a front desk team, which subsequently helped improve the team’s culture and how the training was tailored to the clients’ exact needs. Offering training to smaller groups or teams allows you to focus your training on the clients’ specific needs and the outcomes they hope to accomplish.

Quick tips of delivering training to small groups:

Take the time to know your participants 

Before delivering a small class session it’s always worth taking time to understand each participant’s background, learning goals, and preferred learning style. This could be as simple as asking participants to fill out a short pre-class survey, 

Facilitate discussion and debate

Try to encourage open dialogue and active participation among participants. This could involve splitting the class into smaller groups where learners can chat about the content, and talk through the topics they are learning about. 

Related article: Instructor-led training design: How to plan engaging sessions

2. One to One Training – Featured Example: Mellor Financial Management

One-on-one training or tuition is arguably the format that provides learners with the most immediate feedback from an instructor and a deeper understanding of the subject matter. By its nature, one-on-one coaching requires the instructor to create customized training based on the goals and needs of the individual.

The example below showcases some of the training offered by Mellor Financial Management, a UK-based financial management and training firm that helps people better understand financial concepts and topics. Their one-on-one coaching, as shown below, is offered to professionals who are transitioning into new roles and need to enhance their understanding of financial concepts relevant to their responsibilities.”

Quick tips on delivering one on one training:

Tailor content to individual needs
For any one on one coaching to be successful you need to get a deep understanding of the individual’s goals, strengths, and wishes for the coaching. The more customized the training the greater engagement and relevance for the learner.

Encourage open communication

Creating a supportive environment where the learner feels comfortable asking questions and discussing challenges is particularly important in a one-on-one setting. There are likely to be nuanced challenges that are situation-specific and will require a more bespoke approach.

3. Corporate Training – Featured Example: Mellor Financial Management

Another common format for instructor-led training is corporate training. Similar to the prior example, corporate training often involves upskilling individuals with unique skills and qualifications tailored to their specific roles. While some skills and qualifications can be acquired through self-paced formats, many require the guidance of an experienced trainer or instructor who has the expertise to deliver effective training.

Using another example from Mellor Financial Management you can see that the training course is designed specifically designed for professionals who will require some financial expertise, but haven’t necessarily been trained on these concepts.

Below, you can also see how the business differentiates the types of training they offer on their website. Users can easily navigate to the different types of training the provider offers and find what’s relevant to them—an important takeaway if you provide multiple types of training for different sectors.

Quick tips on delivering corporate training:

Relate content to real-world scenarios
For corporate training to be engaging, it needs to include practical examples and case studies that are relevant to participants’ roles and industry. Including these elements helps bridge learners’ theoretical knowledge with practical application.

Encourage application and practice
To back up real-world examples, try to give participants opportunities to apply their newly learned skills through simulations, role-plays, or practical exercises within the training environment. This will help reinforce learning and enable your learners to build confidence in applying their skills in real work scenarios.

Related article: 13 training website examples to inspire your own design

4. Certification Training – Featured Example: Vancouver Island Construction Association

Most training required to obtain any type of professional certification typically necessitates an instructor. The example below shows the Canadian Construction Association’s Gold Seal Certification offered by the Vancouver Island Construction Association that requires industry experience, education and examination to access.

Quick tips on delivering certification training:

Focus on exam preparation
Structure your training sessions to closely align with the certification exam’s format and content. Provide practice exams, review sessions, and tips for effective exam-taking strategies to help participants feel confident and prepared.

Offer personalized feedback
Regularly assess participants’ progress through assignments, quizzes, or mock exams. Provide constructive feedback tailored to each individual’s strengths and areas needing improvement.

5. Academic Courses – Featured Example: University of British Colombia

Like many of the examples featured, academic courses are carried out using an instructor-led approach, again due to the expertise needed to deliver them.

Most academic courses have remote elements to them, but face to face delivery still plays an important role, as recent research suggests. A 2022 study by Photopoulos et al. investigated university students’ reactions to the switch to remote learning during COVID-19. The findings revealed that students reported higher engagement, better understanding of the subject matter, and a preference for classroom teaching as a learning format – highlighting the continued importance of an instructor.

The example you can see below is an overview of the Bachelor + Master of Management Dual Degree program offered by the University of British Colombia.

6. Safety Training Programs – Featured Example: St John

Common health & safety programs, such as first aid courses, generally require an instructor to function but can also be delivered in a blended format, with the training split between self-paced and on-site modules. Training that includes physical training materials, such as in first aid courses, requires active participation between trainer and learner for the training content to truly sink in and prepare learners for real-world situations.

The example you can see below is from healthcare charity St John.

7. Technical License Training – Featured Example: Stay Upright Motorcycle School

Similar to certification training, obtaining any technical license, such as a motorcycle or commercial vehicle license, requires an instructor. Instructors bring a wealth of experience and the necessary expertise to teach and assess whether a participant has the required skills to obtain the license they are seeking.

An example of this is provided by Stay Upright Motorcycle School, which offers motorcycle training courses and licenses across Australia

8. Virtual Instructor-Led Training – Featured Example: International TEFL Academy

Instructor-led courses aren’t only carried out in person. There are loads of examples of courses taught by an instructor that are carried out virtually. For example, as you can see below courses that provide qualifications such as becoming a English teacher abroad offer courses online.

This type of training often require a blended approach for successful execution, which means a training program is made up of in-person and online training.

Quick tips on delivering virtual instructor led training:

Make sure each session has clear objectives and structure 

Each virtual instructor led training session should have clear learning objectives and a structured outline that guides the learners through the content effectively and coherently. These can be clearly outlined at the beginning of a training session.

Keep your sessions adaptable and flexible
VILT programs and online courses should be designed with flexibility in mind, allowing for adjustments based on learner feedback and the varying needs of participants across sessions.

9. Practical ‘on-the-tools’ Training – Featured Example: Wintec NZ

Training sessions that require knowledge of specific tools are another great example of where instructor-led training thrives. This is often the case for trades-based training, where learners need to directly engage with tools and techniques and receive professional instruction. If you provide or plan to provide any type of tools-based training, it should be carried out in an instructor-led format.

The example you can see below shows an overview panel of the Arboriculture Operations course offered by Wintec NZ.

Points to consider for your training business:

There are a few key points from these examples that could be relevant to your training business, particularly around growth:

Are there opportunities for you to adapt your existing training?

One key takeaway from these examples is that many providers offer various forms of training tailored to different learners, such as specific programs for organizations and individual one-on-one coaching. You might consider offering similar options. For instance, if you have successfully implemented programs for companies and understand the challenges learners face in these courses, along with areas where one-on-one tuition could be beneficial.

If so, you already have the foundational knowledge and understanding to begin brainstorming individual coaching programs that you can offer in an instructor-led format or adapt into self-paced courses.

There’s plenty of times where an instructor is indispensable 

When you start to analyze the various types of training that involve an instructor, you quickly understand why it remains a method of training that excels. Despite the rise of eLearning, there are numerous situations where the expertise and knowledge of an instructor determine whether participants succeed or fail in their course.

What this precisely means for your training business depends on what you offer. If you’re in a position similar to many we speak to at Arlo—looking to expand your training business or improve learner outcomes—it suggests considering opportunities to incorporate instructor-led training into your offerings. This could involve adapting some of your existing training, as mentioned previously, or evaluating whether your training would be more effective delivered by an instructor rather than in a self-paced format.

Many training providers leverage blended learning to maximize the impact of their training

It’s not black and white to say whether you’re better off prioritizing self-paced or instructor-led training for your business; the answer is nuanced and depends on a host of factors. This is why many training providers take a blended approach to their offerings.

For example, a corporate training program often includes elements that require practical instruction as well as more theoretical concepts that learners can absorb at their own pace. We recommend maintaining flexibility in your approach and always keeping in mind which delivery format will prove most effective for your learners.

Our ultimate guide to blended learning contains plenty of tips, and case studies that you can check out if you’re interested in learning more about how you can offer blended forms of training.

Final thoughts

It’s easy to get swept up in the opportunities that self-paced, instructorless training provides. However, these examples illustrate how many different types of training rely on the guidance of an instructor. Hopefully, they’ve given you some fresh ideas that you can apply to your training business.