Deliverable: A standardised HSSEQ induction programme for use across the Group, including multiple companies, countries and operational environments.
With its strategy of rapid growth via acquisition as well as organic, senior leadership were mindful of the need to ensure safety maturity matched (or outstripped) the growth trajectory of the business.
At the beginning, the project was defined by the need to create solutions – how to accommodate very detailed site-specific information alongside high-level content? How to ensure that all learners are served the right information without being asked to sit through content that is not relevant to them? How to convey a large amount of important but potentially dry information whilst avoiding learner fatigue/switch off?Widesight was invited to tender on the basis of previous work it had delivered for a Venterra Group subsidiary.
“We needed to accommodate a complex amount of material and convey it in a manner that was intuitive and relevant to the viewer. With ten subsidiary companies in the mix – each with their own culture, history, operational environment and way of doing things – that was never going to be straightforward. So we needed a partner who could help us identify the issues and create solutions whilst bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders and needs. Initial discussions with Widesight gave me confidence they could do that – and they absolutely did.”
Claire Binns
Group HSSEQ Director
Results and benefits
The programme has been successfully implemented via e-Learning platforms already in use within the business. It is designed for independent learning, supported by Knowledge Checks and Attestation.
This approach delivers several important benefits:
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HSSEQ team time is freed up for other activities.
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A standardised approach that can be customised for specific sites and use-cases.
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Each viewer receives all and only the content that is relevant to them.
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Content that dates quickly can be updated easily and by site teams.
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Accessed in advance, ensuring viewers have the information before arrival on site.
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Automatically creates a record of completion.
£150m +
Group turnover
20 locations
Globally
Supporting clients in
30+ countries
A standardised, customisable solution
We created a HSSEQ Induction programme in three parts.
Basic Safety Induction: a series of short videos for anyone attending any Venterra Group work setting, including offices and remote working. In total, this takes 8-12 minutes to complete.
General Site Induction: for anyone attending any Venterra Group operational site. This series of videos takes around 25-30 minutes to complete and covers the most common hazards and safety measures relevant to Venterra Group sites.
Local site induction for each site: A short e-Learning module for each site, providing basic information about arrival, welfare and safety rules and provisions specific to that site. This is easy to update and managed by the site HSSEQ team.
Each section is hosted on the e-Learning platform and supported by e-Learning content and a short quiz. It can all be completed remotely and prior to arrival on site.
“We’re all really proud of our HSSEQ Induction programme. The quality is fantastic – it’s informative and effective, but it’s also interesting and engaging. People actually want to watch it.
Going into this project, we didn’t have a clear idea of how to bring it all together into something that worked for all our different teams, operational environments and viewers. Working with Widesight, we managed to deliver a thoroughly successful outcome. To my mind, it goes way beyond the finished product - they were exceptional with problem-solving from a blank canvas and strategy development. They did that by really taking care to deeply understand our business and our requirements. I was able to trust them to lead the stakeholder engagement and then develop the content through to delivery.”
Where to start with a project like this? Here are some of our top tips:
Start with what you have
The Discovery phase included a detailed analysis of the existing HSSEQ inductions already in use throughout the Group.
This not only accelerated the process and ensured that all requirements were captured but also generated positive engagement and trust.
Engage, plan, do
Large, spread-out teams (and particularly those created through acquisition) can sometimes lead to unwieldy projects and decision-making. That was certainly a risk here, but the emphasis on collaboration and engagement throughout the Discovery phase resulted in shared expectations and decision-making criteria. This meant that once the content development was underway, decisions could be made by a smaller group – quickly and decisively.
Don’t skimp on scoping
Although the basic requirement was understood, the application and delivery specifications were much less understood. To ensure the content would work within the real-world operational and functional context, it was essential to unpack the objectives, audiences, use-cases, IT platforms, supporting content, brand strategy and tone of voice before making decisions or committing significant resources.
The Discovery phase created space to fully explore these issues and more, involve all stakeholders, evaluate possible options and identify optimal solutions. It enabled all stakeholders to be fully consulted, which laid the groundwork for frictionless decision-making throughout the later stages of the project, as clear and agreed principles and criteria were in place.