Hays and Brightwave to deliver induction solution to LV

Tiered, blended approach for integrating new starters

Hays, a global leader in specialist recruitment and HR services, has chosen to partner with Brightwave, the workplace learning, communications and performance specialist, to develop a blended corporate induction solution for LV=, formerly Liverpool Victoria, the UK's largest Friendly Society.

The blended approach has been designed to reduce the costs associated with recruiting new starters; approximately 400 new starters join LV= each year. The programme will also rationalise the existing three day, face-to-face, classroom induction by delivering the core content online in conjunction with off-line activities.

"Brightwave has always demonstrated the ability to create engaging induction solutions so they were the ideal choice to partner with for this project" said Neil Tune, HR Services Director for Hays. "Their consistent high standard approach to designing and delivering immersive e-learning solutions as well as the flexibility they bring to a combined venture such as this one enables us to provide a truly blended learning solution together that we feel will be a real success for LV=."

The course takes a tiered approach to designing and delivering the training: engage, endorse and enable. The initial engagement will help establish a rapport with prospective employees before an offer of employment. This will include a short communication trailer to help them integrate with the LV= culture. Engagement will be reinforced by endorsement, re-affirming the employee's decision to join LV=. Finally, the enable stage will support an employee's integration into LV=, focusing on supporting the individual until they are fully productive, whilst also accelerating this process through the core content in the e-learning solution.

The course will provide an overview of the policies and practices that affect new starters. It will also explain key obligations that each employee has to customers, members, the law and each other, both legal and otherwise. It will take a maximum of two hours to go through the core content. When this is combined with the off-line elements of the blended solution, the overall time to induct new employees will be reduced from three days to approximately four hours. The blended solution will also increase the validity of the induction programme by enabling greater employee access to core induction content as and when they need it.

"We are delighted to be working with Hays on this project for LV=." said Charles Gould, Managing Director of Brightwave. "Our experience of providing blended solutions for large organisations, and our ability to work flexibly ensures greater success particularly on collaborative ventures such as this one."

Charles concludes "Through designing this programme with an underlying tiered approach it ensures that both the employer and new starter get the most from the training. Engagement is the key to successful retention and motivation of staff, especially at a time when they are new to an organisation. It is necessary for an employee to feel that they are part of the organisation from day one and we feel this is best done from the earliest stage possible."