--- title: How to create Professional Development plans for your team description: Advice on how to create staff professional development and training plans using free templates. image: https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/hubfs/3.%20Infographics%20and%20cheat%20sheets/JPAbusiness%20Professional%20Development%20Plan%20Example.jpg --- 17 February 2026 # How to create Professional Development plans for your team WRITTEN BYJames Price | JPAbusiness ![Staff walking in factory](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/1.%20Images/1.%20Stock%20Images/Staff%20walking%20in%20factory.jpg?width=800&height=533&name=Staff%20walking%20in%20factory.jpg)Staff professional development (PD) needs are best identified through a formal **[performance management and evaluation](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/how-to-conduct-a-performance-review-infographic) **process. I recommend owners/managers** sit down with their staff members once every 12 months**, as part of their annual performance review process, and develop a PD plan jointly, with each individual. This review process will identify where already skilled employees need information to support their growth to gain more advanced knowledge, and further develop their own business and leadership skills.  You can create plans from scratch, or download our free **[Professional Development Plan ](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/operator/professional-development-plan-template)**template to get you started. Below is an **example Professional Development Plan we have filled in** to give you an idea of how it can be used in your business (just click on the image to view the full-sized document).[![JPAbusiness Professional Development Plan Example](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/3.%20Infographics%20and%20cheat%20sheets/JPAbusiness%20Professional%20Development%20Plan%20Example.jpg?width=1000&name=JPAbusiness%20Professional%20Development%20Plan%20Example.jpg)](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/hubfs/3.%20Infographics%20and%20cheat%20sheets/JPAbusiness%20Professional%20Development%20Plan%20Example.pdf) ## What about staff training plans? **Staff training** and** professional development **are slightly different concepts: - **Training **is about ensuring your employees have the required skills and expertise to **carry out the tasks for which they are responsible.** - **Professional development **is a more long-term concept and is about helping your employees** prepare to perform additional duties** in future roles. Again, the best time to identify staff training needs is during the formal performance review process. This process will identify knowledge and skill gaps for individual employees, showing where training is required. Download our free [Staff Training Plan](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/operator/staff-training-plan-template) template to get started. Below is an **example Staff Training Plan we have filled in** (just click on the image to view the full-sized document). [![JPAbusiness Training Plan Example](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/3.%20Infographics%20and%20cheat%20sheets/JPAbusiness%20Training%20Plan%20Example.jpg?width=1000&name=JPAbusiness%20Training%20Plan%20Example.jpg)](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/hubfs/3.%20Infographics%20and%20cheat%20sheets/JPAbusiness%20Training%20Plan%20Example.pdf) We all want competent, confident staff who feel fulfilled and motivated by their work – as we've discussed in previous **[blogs](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/6-reasons-to-invest-in-training-and-pd-infographic)**, it's a win-win that provides benefits for both the employer and employee. Training and professional development is key to staff developing that competence and confidence. If you would like to discuss implementing professional development or staff training plans for your business, [contact the team](https://landing.jpabusiness.com.au/contactus) at JPAbusiness for a confidential, obligation-free discussion.     ![Training and professional development advice cover 2022](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/hubfs/1.%20Images/Updated%20document%20cover%20images%202022/Training%20and%20professional%20development%20advice%20cover%202022.png) Free ebook Training and professional development advice Enhancing the capability of human capital is the most direct path to a sustainable business and strong business maintainable earnings. Learn why you should invest in training and PD, and how to maximise your return from it. [Learn more ](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/operator/training-and-professional-development-advice) Share this Article Share this blog post on Twitter [mailto:?subject=Share%20this%20blog%20post&body=https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/how-to-create-professional-development-plans-for-your-team](mailto:?subject=Share%20this%20blog%20post&body=https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/how-to-create-professional-development-plans-for-your-team) Copied to clipboard Topics - [training and professional development ](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/topic/training-and-professional-development) - [template ](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/topic/template) - [staff management ](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/topic/staff-management) - [professional development ](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/topic/professional-development) - [managing employees ](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/topic/managing-employees) - [staff training ](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/topic/staff-training) - [training and pd ](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/topic/training-and-pd) About James Price | JPAbusiness James Price has over 30 years’ experience in providing strategic, commercial and valuation advice to Australian and international business clients. James’ blogs provide business advice for aspiring and current small to mid-sized business owners, operators and managers. #### Related Blog Posts ### [How to create a business plan in 3 steps [infographic]](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/how-to-create-a-business-plan-in-3-steps-infographic) Business plans don't need to be weighty documents, but they do need to be: referenced regularly,... [Read more ](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/how-to-create-a-business-plan-in-3-steps-infographic) ### [4 tips to help avoid employee disputes](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/4-tips-to-help-avoid-employee-disputes) In our ebook, Industrial relations advice for small to mid-sized businesses, we asked industrial... [Read more ](https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/4-tips-to-help-avoid-employee-disputes) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "James Price | JPAbusiness", "url" : "https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/author/james-price-jpabusiness" }, "dateModified" : "2026-02-17T15:00:00.552Z", "datePublished" : "2026-02-17T15:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "How to create Professional Development plans for your team", "image" : [ "https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/hubfs/3.%20Infographics%20and%20cheat%20sheets/JPAbusiness%20Professional%20Development%20Plan%20Example.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/blog/how-to-create-professional-development-plans-for-your-team", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.jpabusiness.com.au/hubfs/JPAbusiness-logo.svg" }, "name" : "JPAbusiness Pty Ltd" } } ```