I've been asked to prepare an IPD article on best practice in drawing up contracts with external trainers. (For trainer, you can also read 'training provider' - a company rather than an individual.)

IPD members want to know (among other things):

* the key questions to ask when considering an external trainer
* what issues should guide the client's thinking when considering an external trainer
* what needs to be agreed when setting up the contract (including perhaps fees, hours worked, confidentiality...)
* the relationship between proposals and contracts
* what to put on paper when establishing the relationship
* how to agree what the trainer will provide
* how to monitor that they deliver what they have contracted to deliver
* any examples of typical contracts between companies and external trainers

I'd like the piece to do more than offer some examples of forms to fill in. I'm interested in best practice in establishing and maintaining relationships with external trainers - from the client's point of view.

If anybody has any ideas or links that would help, I will be happy to acknowledge your help in the article. It will become one of the 'Topics for Trainers' on the IPD website.

Thank you.

Alan Barker
Alan Barker