At Automata, we believe that continuous learning and development are essential to both our team’s growth and the success of our company. By investing in our employees' professional development, we not only enhance individual skills but also strengthen our overall capabilities. We are dedicated to providing as many opportunities as possible within our financial means to help you grow, improve, and reach your full potential. While we strive to support your development, we also need to be mindful of our company’s financial responsibilities. To that end, we will regularly review our training budgets to ensure that resources are allocated in a way that balances our commitment to your growth with the need for sensible financial management.

Purpose: This policy outlines the process and guidelines for staff training across all departments for the financial year 2025 (FY25). It ensures that training opportunities are aligned with the company’s strategic priorities and budgetary constraints.

1. Budget Allocation and Training Eligibility

• Departmental Budgets: Each department has been allocated a specific budget for staff training for FY25. It is the responsibility of the department heads to ensure that training expenditures remain within this allocated budget.
• Eligibility: Permanent employees who have completed their probationary period (UK) or first 90 days (US) are eligible to apply for training courses and professional development activities under this policy.

2. Training Request Process

• Conversations and Planning: Managers should engage in regular conversations with their team members to identify training needs and opportunities for professional development.
• Training Application: Managers wishing to nominate an employee for a course must complete and submit the Training Request Form on their behalf and submit it for review. This form must include details of the course, cost, and relevance to their role or personal development.
• Finance Review: Upon submission, the Finance Department will review the application to ensure it fits within the agreed budget and appropriate training programs. They will notify the employee and their manager if the request is approved or contact them for further information or clarification if needed.
• Virtual Card Request: For approved courses, employees will need to request a virtual card on Spendesk to purchase the course. The process for requesting a single-use virtual card is detailed in the **Notion page here. -** The default cost centre and expense category should be set to “Staff Training.”
• Employees must specify the course details in the box provided.

3. Personal Development Courses

• Non-Work-Related Courses: If an employee wishes to undertake a course for personal development that is not directly related to their role, they can use their Well-being & Development allowance via **ThanksBen.** However, Personal development courses that are not directly related to an employee's current role will be taxable. Employees are responsible for understanding the tax implications of these courses.

4. Approval Criteria and Budget Management

• Within Budget: We aim to approve all training requests that fall within the department's agreed budget provided they meet the criteria outlined in this policy.
• Outside Budget: If a training request exceeds the allocated budget, employees are encouraged to still submit the request. These will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and approval will depend on the availability of funds and the strategic importance of the training.
• Spending Review: We will review training expenditures across all departments on a quarterly basis. If necessary, we may reallocate funds based on actual usage and demand.

5. Special Cases and High-Cost Training

• Courses Exceeding £2,000: For any individual training course with a cost exceeding £2,000, the employee will be required to sign a training agreement. This agreement will clearly outline the expectations and conditions of the training, including a clause stating that the employee agrees to reimburse the company if they voluntarily leave within 12 months of completing the course.