The training proposal template that starts with the outcome

Write the decision you need to make

A training proposal should help someone decide whether a programme is worth commissioning and whether the conditions for success are in place. It needs more than a course title, a date and a fee. State the work problem, the audience and the evidence you expect after delivery.

Use the following structure to brief a provider or compare proposals. It is a practical planning template, not a contract. Commercial terms and responsibilities still need to be agreed through your normal buying process.

1. The problem and the audience

Describe the work that needs to change. Include what you have observed, where the gap appears and why it matters. Distinguish evidence from an assumption you want the programme to test.

Identify the roles, approximate learner numbers, existing experience and relevant access constraints. Note accessibility needs and working patterns early. A programme designed around daytime office attendance may not fit a team working across shifts or locations.

A useful hypothetical brief might begin: “Our project coordinators need to turn approved notes into checked sponsor updates. Current drafts vary in structure and reviewers spend time finding missing decisions.” That is more actionable than “We need to become an AI-first organisation”.

2. The outcome and its evidence

State what learners should demonstrate by the end. Use a task and a quality standard rather than a vague promise of confidence. Explain who will judge the work and how feedback will be handled.

List the records you need: attendance, completed practice, assessment decisions or a follow-up review. Do not assume that a certificate proves a behaviour was demonstrated. Ask what the certificate represents and what evidence sits behind it.

Use the AI skills matrix template if expectations differ across roles.

3. The learning and delivery design

Ask the provider to explain why the proposed activities fit the outcome. How much time is available for guided practice? What will learners do before and after live sessions? How will someone catch up if they miss an activity?

Specify the approved tools and practice material. Agree who prepares examples and checks their suitability. If a platform is involved, explain how learners access it, where evidence is held and who supports account problems.

The blended learning design guide provides a useful way to connect preparation, practice and application.

4. Responsibilities and assumptions

Name the sponsor, delivery owner, manager contact and technical contact. Allocate preparation, communications, access checks, learner support and review responsibilities. Make the time expected from managers visible in the proposal.

Write down assumptions that affect the scope. These could include stable learner numbers, access being ready, the availability of a subject expert or approval to use particular material. Agree what happens if an assumption changes rather than leaving the provider and sponsor to discover different expectations during delivery.

5. Cost, follow-up and acceptance

Separate the delivery fee from optional services and internal effort. Clarify what is included, what requires another purchase and what happens after the final session. Ask for a review point at which you can discuss evidence and decide whether further support is needed.

Define acceptance in terms both parties can inspect. Delivery completion and improved workplace performance may occur at different times and depend on different people. Avoid making either side responsible for an outcome it cannot control alone.

Compare the answers, not the adjectives

Give shortlisted providers the same brief. Compare their proposed practice, evidence, responsibilities and assumptions before comparing attractive language about transformation. Record unresolved questions and ask for a revised scope where necessary.

Read how to commission workforce AI training, explore sponsoring an AI literacy programme, or send Experrt your starting brief. A few clear paragraphs are enough to begin the conversation.