Public, in-house, virtual or blended: how to choose the right training format

Choosing what to train is only half the decision. How the training is delivered affects cost, relevance, attendance and ultimately whether new skills make it back to the workplace. Here is how the four main formats compare.

Public courses

Public courses run on scheduled dates at a professional venue, with delegates from different organisations. At ICSS, public courses are hosted at four- and five-star venues and every delegate receives a comprehensive training pack and a certificate.

Best for: one or two delegates, specialist topics, and people who benefit from hearing how other organisations work.

In-house training

In-house training is delivered for your team only, at your offices or a venue you choose. It usually starts with a familiarisation visit and training needs analysis, so examples and exercises reflect your environment. Pre- and post-course assessments can be added to measure impact.

Best for: groups, sensitive or organisation-specific content, and aligning a whole team around new processes.

Live virtual training

Virtual sessions are live and facilitator-led on platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Delegates need a stable internet connection and should test the platform beforehand.

Best for: teams spread across locations, reducing travel costs and time out of the office.

Blended learning

Blended programmes use a flipped-classroom approach: delegates work through material on their own first, then join interactive online sessions to discuss, clarify and apply what they have learned.

Best for: longer programmes, busy professionals and topics that benefit from reflection between sessions.

Quick comparison

Consideration	Public	In-house	Virtual	Blended
Group size	1–5 delegates	Groups	Any	Any
Customisation	Standard	High	Medium–high	Medium–high
Travel required	Yes	Minimal	None	None
Networking	Cross-organisation	Within team	Limited	Within cohort

Still not sure?

Start with your objective, group size and operational calendar. We schedule training around peak activity periods and can combine formats – for example, an in-house workshop followed by virtual coaching sessions.