| Consideration | In-house training | Public workshop |
|---|---|---|
| Participants | A group from your organisation. | Individuals or small groups joining other organisations. |
| Content | Scope and workplace examples can be agreed around the team’s needs. | Usually follows a published outline and shared learning objectives. |
| Scheduling | Dates and arrangements are agreed with the provider. | Attendance depends on advertised dates and available places. |
| Cost comparison | Compare the total group quote, venue and related costs. | Compare per-person fees, travel and time away from work. |
| Workplace application | Colleagues can agree shared actions and working practices. | Participants can bring external perspectives back to their team. |
| HRD Corp funding | Confirm the registered programme and applicable grant requirements. | Confirm the specific workshop and applicable grant requirements. |
When in-house training may fit
Consider an in-house programme when several colleagues need to develop the same capability or work through a common challenge. Shared examples and team discussions can make it easier to connect the learning with everyday work. Agree the level of customisation, facilitation approach and group size before comparing proposals.
When a public workshop may fit
A public workshop may suit one or two people who need a particular skill or value learning alongside participants from other organisations. Check the audience level and outline carefully: a convenient date alone does not establish a good learning fit. Public availability must be confirmed with the organiser; this guide is a format comparison, not a list of scheduled Lumina workshops.
Compare the full investment
Calculate the total cost for your expected attendance, including venue, travel and time away from work. Ask what materials and follow-up are included. Neither format is automatically cheaper or more effective; evaluate the proposal against your actual group and objectives.
Make the decision around application
Choose the format that lets participants practise the relevant skills and use them afterwards. For a shared team challenge, ask how managers will support the resulting actions. For individual attendance, agree how the participant will apply and share what they learn. Confirm the schedule and any funding conditions before booking.