How to Write a Training Report

Business owners use training reports to track and summarize the key takeaways from training programs. The reports might review an organization's annual training program or focus on smaller training sessions. Business leaders use these reports to evaluate what is working and what isn't and to develop recommendations for change. When you write a training report, include basic formatting components so the data is easily absorbed.

Generally, a training report will evaluate the positive and negative aspects of a training program after the event has occurred. As such, you'll start by defining the training program with a cover page that includes the name, location and date of the training. Include the date of the report, the author's name and contact information in a second block of information on the cover page. Depending on the duration of the training, some reports are necessarily longer than others. An annual review of a multi-city weekly training program is longer than a report concerning a two-hour training program, for example. Long reports incorporate a table of contents so readers can easily navigate the data.

Depending on the length of the report, training program background and objectives might be written as separate sections. Short reports often combine these components. The background component describes a training summary and how information for the report was gathered. Reports might include feedback from trainers and attendee reviews or surveys. Define why the training occurred and what leadership sought to accomplish by appropriating resources for the program. If the program doesn't define why the training occurred, it isn't possible to properly evaluate whether the objectives were met.

Include an explanation for how the training was conducted. Describe the presentation content as well as participant workshop exercises and the duration of each. Detail how learning aids were used in the course of the training program. Also, discuss any field trips that occurred in the course of the training.

Break this section into subsections if the training was extensive, conducted over extended periods of time and across geographic areas, or had many different types of activities. For example, a three-day sales-training workshop could have guest speakers, a sales manager breakout session and a ropes course for team building. Each of the speakers, sessions and the ropes course are explained in different subsections.

Since the objectives and methods were previously defined, this section highlights the key takeaways. Review key feedback common in surveys. Be specific but don't get bogged down in too many details. The conclusions discuss potential implications to the organization based on the key findings. Make recommendations a separate section. Avoid combining recommendations with conclusions. There may be some overlap with the ideas discussed in key findings. However, keeping recommendations separate allows readers to succinctly find information to help the organization move forward productively.

Include supporting documents such as copies of training materials, slide presentations or agendas. This information is supplemental but helps future training program planners review exactly where new changes can be implemented during training.