Partner Article

New Workshop Tackles Staff Retention Through Improved Onboarding

Zenith Training programme helps North East businesses reduce early departures with inclusive practices

North East employers are being offered free training on creating onboarding experiences that improve staff retention and accelerate new hire productivity, as part of a regional workforce development initiative.

The Inclusive Onboarding That Sticks workshop, delivered by Zenith Training, addresses a critical challenge for businesses: many talented employees leave within their first 90 days due to inadequate onboarding support.

Research consistently shows that effective onboarding is one of the strongest predictors of long-term retention, yet many businesses still rely on outdated approaches that fail to set new employees up for success.

When onboarding processes fall short, businesses face recruitment costs starting again, lost productivity, knowledge drain, and impacts on team morale - often seeing new hires leave to competitors who provide better initial experiences.

The three-hour workshop goes beyond traditional paperwork-focused onboarding to help employers create experiences that make every new hire feel welcomed and positioned for success from day one.

"Effective onboarding isn't about adding more administration," said Steven Welsh, Client Relationship Manager at Zenith Training. "It's about building systems that work for diverse talent while actually reducing burden on existing teams."

Participants will learn how to create structured onboarding journeys for different roles and experience levels, adapt processes for various learning styles and accessibility needs, and support employees returning to work after career breaks.

The session covers practical strategies including pre-boarding techniques, buddy systems, self-service resources, and methods for gathering feedback at critical touchpoints. Attendees will also learn how to measure onboarding effectiveness and identify warning signs when processes are failing.

Employers will receive templates, communication frameworks, and feedback collection tools that can be implemented immediately.

The workshop format includes case study analysis, group problem-solving for common challenges, and peer sharing among North East businesses. Business owners, HR professionals, managers, and anyone involved in supporting new employees will find relevant strategies regardless of organisation size.

The workshop forms part of the Recruit, Retain & Thrive programme, delivered in partnership with The North East Combined Authority's Economic Inactivity Trailblazer initiative. The broader programme brings together employment and skills services to support individuals returning to work and help employers create inclusive workplaces.

Organisations implementing inclusive onboarding practices typically experience reduced early turnover, faster productivity gains, stronger team cohesion, and improved employer reputation.

The programme includes three other workshops covering inclusive recruitment, retention management, and AI applications in HR. Businesses can attend individual sessions based on their priorities, with no requirement to complete the full series.

The workshop is offered free of charge to qualifying North East businesses, funded by The North East Combined Authority. Spaces are limited to ensure quality discussion and personalised guidance.

For details or to register for please visit: Recruit, Retain & Thrive - Qualified HR Advisory | Eventbrite

Zenith Training delivers the Recruit, Retain & Thrive programme as part of The North East Combined Authority's Economic Inactivity Trailblazer initiative, providing practical workshops and expert HR guidance to help regional businesses strengthen their workforces.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by We Are Zenith .