Virtual bespoke training to solve major, multi- site logistical and professional resourcing issues – supporting equality and inclusivity

The challenge

In 2014, Unilever UK, Ireland and Europe’s Process Safety Operations needed to overcome major logistical and resourcing problems – to deliver multiple training events across numerous sites, which were inclusive and equally accessible for all. That’s why they became innovative, early adopters of Cogent Skills’ bespoke Blended Learning Model for their Operations and Process Safety Management training across UK, Ireland and Europe.

The major logistical problems included getting multiple employees – who were located across fifty sites and in different countries, to commit to attending single, central location training events. Resourcing issues included the lack of in-house audio- visual specialists.

Training barriers were made even more challenging, as employees needed to gain authorisation to be offsite for several days – taking them away from performing their day job, plus the cost of travel, accommodation, venue hire and not to mention the disruption to that individual’s work / home life balance!

In addition to these logistics and costs problems, the COVID-19 global pandemic ‘work from home’ directive would’ve made it more difficult to deliver face to face training.

For Unilever however, as their virtual delivery model had already been solidly embedded for 6 years, this meant that they were not affected by the imposed remote working restrictions and their operational training operated in ‘business as usual’ mode.

We have fifty manufacturing sites across Europe, eight of which are COMAH/ SEVESO III sites and five of those being Upper Tier sites – which have some significant hazards. We wanted to extend our own Process Safety Management training to all fifty of our sites regardless of whether they’re a COMAH site or not and this posed some major logistical problems.

This is why we approached Cogent Skills to collaborate with us to develop virtual content, which combined Unilever specific training content in with Cogent’s PSM training – as their courses include exclusive PSM framework training standards content which is recognised by the HSE and has been developed by the UK Process Safety Management Competence Programme Board.

Malcolm Sarstedt
Process Safety Operations Manager, Unilever UK, Ireland and Europe

The solution

Inclusivity and logistical issues were the core business drivers; however, Unilever’s business case to adopt this advanced learning approach was strengthened by substantial value-added corporate benefits, which cemented the senior leadership decision to adopt Bespoke Blended Learning across UK, Ireland and Europe. These benefits included the fact that they could:

• Develop a bespoke training plan. Unilever and Cogent Skills agreed the interactive training plan, relevant virtual platforms and key discussion points, along with a pre- training schedule and participant completion of OECD benchmarking assessments before the courses. This meant that the expert industry instructors understood the level of participant knowledge beforehand, were confident that the participants were well prepared and knew the exact messages that senior management wanted to cascade to their audiences.
• Develop a blended learning approach. Cogent Skills were able to create bespoke learning experience that would combine bespoke knowledge videos with trainer lead activities to create the Blended learning programme that is delivered remotely for Unilever, giving the delegates the best experience of gaining the knowledge and having access to industry experts. It was important that the trainers were still actively part of the courses so they could host discussions, answer questions and share best practice.
• Combine their own specific corporate messaging and process safety procedure directions. The exclusive corporate content and messaging for multiple site staff, was signed off by senior leadership and incorporated into the industry developed PSM framework training standards content, which included up-to-date regulatory competence and compliance requirements. These PSM standards, developed by the UK Process Safety Management Competence Programme Board, are benchmarked to comply to relevant COMAH / Seveso III regulations.
• Produce professional corporate training films. Unilever and Cogent Skills agreed on industry specific case study blended learning videos which could be incorporated into their own set piece presentations. This included their own specific corporate messaging and process safety procedure directions, plus industry recognised case studies along with the incorporation of their own case study videos – everything relevant to Unilever’s business needs.
• Receive corporate branded materials and training workbooks. All training materials were Unilever branded, this investment demonstrated the business’ commitment to taking the training seriously – for whole company acceptance and adoption.

Blended learning is certainly the way forward for Unilever. In terms of actual training and delivery, it is remarkably effective. Senior leaders can be extremely critical – but not in the case of working with Cogent Skills, in fact I would say that it has been an overwhelming success – with senior leadership and Vice Presidents who’ve attended the training, have given exceptionally good, positive feedback.

Malcolm Sarstedt
Process Safety Operations Manager, Unilever UK, Ireland and Europe

Bespoke learning means that we can combine our own systems training messages with industry specific case studies and up-to-date regulatory competence and compliance standards, whilst providing the equal opportunity of delivering learning at times and via platforms which were accessible to all of our employees.

Malcolm Sarstedt
Process Safety Operations Manager, Unilever UK, Ireland and Europe