On the campus of William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, area businesses are taking advantage of an affordable and comprehensive training and development education. The growing market of high-tech jobs and small business growth has put Harper in the mix of a host of companies now seeking training, education and assistance.

“Harper College has experienced increased demand for technical skills classes in Internet Protocol (IP) and networking,” said Maria Coons, managing director of the Harper College for Business. Demand in this area is regional, she added, as a large array of technology-based businesses thrive in the northwest suburbs

“Harper’s district has a considerable number of high-tech companies, so the technical skills training demand may be specific to our local area.”

Like many community colleges around the state, Harper offers assistance to companies through the Small Business Development Center located on its campus. Here, the college can provide businesses with management, marketing and financial counseling in order to help them succeed. Confidential counseling sessions are available on such topics as financial resources, marketing and start-up.

But beyond the services of the SBDC, Harper College responds to business demands on a company training level, particularly in the now trendy areas of leadership, customer service, and client management courses.

“Workplace English-as-a-Second Language training is one of our oldest and most successful training programs,” Coons said. Harper’s ESL program customizes instruction in language skills needed in particular industries and specific to the company, so participants become versed in more than simple conversation.

Many of the business programs at Harper College include extensive follow-up, which has proven to be an advantage to the school, and its client businesses.

“We are most successful with programs that include follow-up sessions where the training is applied, and with programs that are highly interactive,” Coons said.

Harper program which follow that framework include sales/service, leadership and Workplace English-as-a-Second Language.

“Participants are immersed in a topic during the training sessions,” Coons said. “Then, they are asked to go apply the principles learned. They return to the follow-up sessions and report on their successes or challenges in implementing the skills/techniques discussed during training. Strategies for further success are discussed, and the participants are asked to apply those, as well.”

The number of follow-up sessions can range from one to 16, depending on the program.

“These programs are more valuable to the participants and companies that are sponsoring the training initiative,” she added.

News of such successes spreads, and in many cases new clients are referred to Harper by current client companies, she said. But that doesn’t mean Harper can sit still on marketing.

“We reach out to area businesses in a variety of ways,” Coons said. “We host strategic outreach functions that draw area businesses to the college.”

These include seminars and special events.

“We then explain the training Harper can provide for them--at their sites.” The ability to provide training at a company’s location has been extremely important for Harper.

“Most often the training is done during work hours. Onsite delivery allows employees to participate in training or classes with little or no commuting time,” Coons said. “This enhances productivity.”

The process begins with a full scope needs assessment that helps companies pin-point their training needs. The right training choice for each organization depends on the audience, time frame, budget, internal resources and business challenges, and Harper tailors its training approach to each client’s specific needs.

After training needs have been identified, Harper’s staff selects qualified trainer to conduct the program.

“The vast majority of our training is conducted by outside consultants who have a great deal of expertise in specific areas,” Coons said. “Most consultants find us. Many of these individuals are aware that community colleges provide training to area businesses.

“Consultants must then forward a resume, be interviewed, and conduct a training demonstration. Then, if Harper approves of their expertise, they are recommended to the client company for the training being delivered,” Coons said.

The college also arranges for the client to meet the training consultant to make sure there is a fit.

“In some cases,” she said, “we may source a consultant with a particular expertise.”

The bottom-line goal is to make the delivery of the training and consulting resources seamless.

Along those lines, Harper makes sure to treat the employees of businesses in its region with the same courtesy as residents. To that end, more than 4,500 companies participate in Harper College’s Education Service Agreement (ESA) program. ESA allows a local company’s employees who live outside of Harper’s district to take credit courses at in-district rates. The in-district tuition is available whether the cost is to be paid by the employees or by the company.

Students participating in ESA program must have been employed since the beginning of the semester and be an Illinois resident or resident of any adjacent state (Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa).

“Harper College has prepared many of our staff to take that next step,” said Mike Alagna of Nation Pizza in Schaumburg. “We have worked with them for more than six years and would not use anyone else.”

Alagna’s company produces frozen pizza products for restaurants across the country, and Nation Pizza has utilized Harper’s services for everything from ESL to management and supervisory training. Programs have been held on site at the company, on campus at Harper, and many staff members have taken advantage of the ESA and attended further classes independently.

“Without the training we received at Harper, we would not be as successful a company as we are today,” Alagna said. “They really met the needs of our business.”

All this connection with clients and “students” around the Harper community keeps the college team knowledgeable about trends and changing work environments. This allows Harper to stay current and keep its course offerings and training up-to-date and in demand.

“Soft skills training in areas such as communication, customer service and client management appear to be in highest demand,” said Coons of the current atmosphere. “Harper’s staff is very experienced in helping companies identify their training needs. Our high client retention rate speaks to our quality and the relationships and trust we have built with area companies.”