Essentials: What is Curated Training?
It’s not an everyday term, let’s be honest.
It’s not likely to form part of an everyday conversation.
“Hey Joe, what did you think of that latest curated training that Mike sent out?”
I suspect you might get a blank look.
Yet, you probably curate training on a very regular basis.
So, let’s rephrase the comment above…
“Hey Joe, what did you think of that video collection that Mike sent out?”
“They were great, loved the second one that takes you through how to update the customer record. That shortcut it showed, I wish I’d known that sooner!”
It’s the thing we’ve been doing for years, sharing knowledge we believe is helpful with our peers or colleagues.
Over the years, you’ve probably diligently saved links to useful websites, subscribed to channels on YouTube and TikTok, built an article list on Feedly, or if you’re more of a Gen Xer, have a great-looking TBR list, cascading pile of books, or a shelf of artfully arranged books (possibly leftover from Zooms in 2020...).
You’ve been curating content.
Zoom Background Bookshelf Mania!
If you’ve ever scrolled through countless online courses, blogs, podcasts, or videos, wondering which ones are worth your team’s time, you’ve already encountered the problem curated training solves.
Curated training isn’t about creating courses from scratch, it’s about finding the best learning content out there, selecting what’s relevant, and organising it for your team. Think of it as being a knowledge librarian: you pick the books, videos, or guides that will actually make a difference, and present them in a way that’s easy to navigate.
Why Curated Training Matters for SMEs
In small or medium-sized businesses, time and budgets are tight. And let’s be honest, you or your workers are probably already doing it informally.
A curated training strategy allows you to:
Save time: You don’t have to design every course yourself.
Provide variety: Mix articles, videos, podcasts, and interactive content.
Focus on relevance: Only share content that applies directly to your team’s work.
Keep it flexible: Employees can learn at their own pace, on any device.
For SMEs, these benefits mean you can offer high-quality training without the cost and complexity of traditional L&D programs.
How Curated Training Works in Practice
Discover content: Use online courses, blogs, YouTube, podcasts, professional bodies, or industry-specific resources.
Select carefully: Focus on relevance, credibility, and clarity. Avoid outdated or overly generic materials.
Organise and share: Store links in a shared drive, Slack channel, or lightweight LMS. Add categories, descriptions, and tags to make them easy to find.
Encourage engagement: Highlight key resources, add mini challenges, or invite your team to share takeaways.
Slack Channel for Curated Training Content
Curated Training vs. Traditional Training
Traditional training often involves creating bespoke courses or booking expensive workshops. Curated training, on the other hand:
Is faster to implement
Can be scaled easily
Offers a blended mix of learning formats
Gives your team control over what, when, and how they learn
It’s about smart learning, not just more learning.
Why SMEs Should Care
In a small business, every hour counts. Curated training lets you:
Upskill your team without disrupting workflow
Give employees access to the latest industry insights
Build a culture of continuous learning, even without a full-time L&D department
Need a little help? If you’re interested in setting up curated training but aren’t sure where to start, Jessanol can step in. We help SMEs find, organise, and deliver learning resources that are relevant, easy to access, and designed to make an impact from day one.