It’s been a busy and rewarding month across our group, with our training teams working in a wide variety of environments – from turbine halls to harbours – to deliver courses that make a real impact. We’ve seen teams building skills and confidence in everything from working at height and confined space entry to overhead crane operation and internal verification. This month also saw us complete large-scale training projects, such as delivering Overhead Gantry Crane training in MacDuff for over 100 delegates – a fantastic opportunity to boost capability on a significant scale.
Alongside our on-the-ground delivery, we’ve been celebrating some incredible learner achievements. Our Modern Apprenticeship successes include individuals like Mathilda Lamprecht and Michael MacLennan, who have shown dedication, resilience, and a commitment to continuous improvement. We’ve also seen organisations investing heavily in their people, with Bells Food Group’s Modern Apprenticeship programme continuing to expand, and leadership development sessions making a real difference for teams at both Bells and Gordon & MacPhail.
We’re proud to have maintained our high standards through our successful RTITB Accreditation audit and to have contributed to the #NoWrongPath campaign, sharing our own experiences to inspire the next generation. In this edition, you’ll also find our insight into the human factors that influence working at height safety – exploring why PPE compliance is only one part of the equation and how behavioural safety plays a vital role in keeping people safe.
Finally, we’ve included a detailed service spotlight on our Working at Height training portfolio, as well as upcoming course and webinar dates to help you plan ahead. Whether you’re refreshing existing skills, developing new leaders, or looking to enhance your Competency Management System, our focus remains the same – delivering high-quality, practical learning that helps individuals and organisations perform at their best.
Working at height remains one of the highest-risk activities across many industries and having the right skills, knowledge, and equipment use is essential for keeping people safe. Our comprehensive Working at Height training portfolio covers everything from essential awareness through to advanced rescue, inspection, and management skills.
Whether you need to build hazard awareness, gain industry-recognised PASMA accreditation, develop safe work and rescue techniques, or ensure your team can competently inspect and maintain personal fall protection equipment, we have a course to suit. Training is available at our dedicated facilities in Kintore or can be delivered on your site, combining classroom learning with practical, hands-on experience.
From operatives to supervisors and managers, our courses are designed to meet the needs of all roles and responsibilities, helping organisations stay compliant, confident, and safe when working at height.
Upcoming Courses and Webinars
ADR Dangerous Goods by Road – This course gives you the skills to safely transport hazardous goods by road, covering classification, labelling, packaging, handling, storage, PPE, and emergency response. Ideal for those moving chemicals, explosives, or other dangerous goods, it ensures safety, efficiency, and compliance. 11–15 Aug | £445 + Exam Fees | AquaTerra Training
Asbestos & Non-Licensed Work – Based on the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, we offer a half-day awareness course and a full-day option including Non-Licensed Work. Learn to recognise and manage asbestos risks, with task-specific training for those working directly with ACMs. 15 Aug | £150 / £270 | AquaTerra Training
Working at Height Unit 2 & 3 and Confined Space Entry and Rescue – 3 Day Combined – Learn safe systems for both working at height and confined space entry, including equipment use, risk assessment, rescue planning, and emergency response. A mix of theory and hands-on practice builds competence and confidence. 19–21 Aug | £720 | AquaTerra Training
Successful Approaches to CMS (Webinar) – Discover what makes a Competency Management System work. This session covers CMS strategy, standards, responsibilities, and overcoming common challenges, with practical tips for agile, visible, and well-communicated systems. Ideal for anyone building, refining, or future-proofing a CMS. 26 Aug | Free Webinar
Present, Train & Communicate with Impact – A 2–3 day ILM Recognised course that builds the skills to deliver engaging talks, briefings, and training sessions. Learn to structure content, control nerves, adapt your style, and make your message land clearly in any situation. 9–11 Sept | From £395 | AquaTerra Training
Creating Your Training Academy (Webinar) – Learn how to create a tailored training academy covering compliance, HSEQ, HR, behavioural, technical, and management topics. Discover how to embed courses, use our CMS, and unlock long-term benefits like cost savings and stronger learning culture. 23 Sept | Free Webinar
First Aid at Work Refresher – Renew your First Aid at Work qualification and keep skills current for workplace emergencies. Covers casualty assessment, first aid equipment, record-keeping, hygiene, and legal compliance, ensuring confidence in real-life situations. 21–22 Oct | £225 | AquaTerra Training Additional Dates: 13–14 Jan | 3–4 Feb
Starting Up Your Competency Management System – A one-day course covering CMS strategy, framework selection, competence standards, assessment planning, and implementation. Ideal for anyone setting up or improving a CMS, with guidance on assessor/verifier training and maintaining long-term momentum. 6 Nov | £199 | AquaTerra Training
Starting Up Your Competency Management System (Online Workshop) – The same practical one-day CMS course as on the left, just delivered remotely. Learn to design, implement, and maintain a robust CMS, with tools and advice you can apply immediately—wherever you’re based. 25 Nov | £199 | Online
We provided a range of consultancy services during a major reorganisation of its operations. This includes the following main changes:
– The in-sourcing of a range of training and competency services affecting onshore and offshore positions which had previously been outsourced to a major service company for 10 years
– The recontracting of its main offshore services including Fabrication and Maintenance, Operations and Production and Asset integrity
• Polaris Learning was contracted to redefine the training and competency requirements for all offshore positions affected by the re-contracting of major services. This included all positions within Fabrication and Maintenance
(including onshore based managers), Operations and Maintenance personal, Deck and Emergency Roles.
• We liaised with a variety of stakeholders to redefine the minimum training, qualification and competence requirements for all positions affected (around 30 roles in total).
• We also liaised with service providers to ensure alignment of revised requirements and processes with their existing arrangements.
• A long-term relationship to assist the organisation development and implement training and competency initiatives across its international operations.
• The recent project focused on training and competency procedures and a cascade model for tool and workshop competency.
• The CMS project was linked to the organisation’s drive to improve downhole reliability with the human element of performance requiring attention, which was addressed by designing the CMS around their organisation’s key processes.
Provision of accredited assessor training to assist with the implementation of its CAMS programme which gained accreditation with OPITO.
This was followed with the provision of accredited internal verifier programme to a number of the organisation’s internal verifiers.
• The company needed to address the issue of competency for its diverse, international fleet.
• Polaris Learning were initially contracted to provide guidance through to the first road testing of the new competence assurance and assessment scheme.
• We used our CMS Health Check service to provide consistent guidance on the process and also our in-depth experience of working with the IMCA Competence Scheme to help TOPAZ get their approach right. Following initial implementation, we were re-contracted to provide assessor training for initial roll out and then to provide remote assessor training using our online blended learning platform PLUS.
• Development and implementation of training and competency systems for the organisation’s dive support vessels including all diving and deck positions.
• Working in partnership with the company to implement an online competence assessment system (CAS) across the organisation’s Dive Support Vessels.
• Additional contracts to implement similar requirements for marine and technical positions. Ongoing support to the training and competency manager.
Revision and roll out of CMSDevelopment and implementation of Training & Competency systems for the organisation’s key offshore teams: Well Ops; SIL; Coiled Tubing & Senior DP.
Review of system for diving operations and development of processes to support implementation.
Provision of Assessor and Verifier training since 2011 to assist with the improvement and energising of company’s offshore competency scheme for Marine and Construction personnel. This has included some independent verification of portfolios.
Detailed consultancy during 2021 to review and update the CMS system in line with industry practice.
Integrated LMS and CMS• Development and hosting of organisation’s integrated LMS and CMS. This included the transition of traditional learning programmes online.
• Competencies developed and implemented online in line with IMCA framework.
• Provision of Assessor, Internal Verifier and Train the Trainer programmes to support learning drive.
• Currently working on Phase 3 of LMS and CMS project to cover new parent organisation’s operations.
Stena Drilling were looking for specialist support as they revised their CMS to streamline and finalise their revised CMS prior to implementation.
Polaris Learning prepared and delivered a detailed review of the revised CMS and execution plan, working very closely with the CMS team.
This included a detailed review and benchmarking of their standards, assessment process, supporting procedures, alignment options and plans to update their online CMS system.
Development of online assessor training to mirror the revised CMS set-up.
Our support for the client involved integrating diverse competency management systems into a singular, global one usable across 20+ rigs, accommodating individual rig variations. This effort was centred on the organisation’s performance standards derived from their barrier management strategy and integrated their on-the-job training framework.
This comprehensive approach was risk-based, aiming to streamline the competency management system for seamless movement between rig types and locations while effectively managing associated risks. We collaborated closely to implement their IT solution efficiently, facilitating the rollout of their revised competency management system.
Our involvement extended to providing verification expertise until the in-house verifiers were trained to take over the process. Additionally, we offered assessor and verifier training globally through our online learning portal, PLUS. This training was tailored to the client’s processes, translated into Scandinavian for the Norwegian market. The client was notably pleased with the substantial cost savings from this training route and its remarkable effectiveness.
Since January 2015, we’ve collaborated with Sapura Kencana Drilling (SKD), initially training 500 assessors online through a program with a knowledge test. Subsequently, we extended this online training to verifiers, also incorporating a knowledge assessment. Recently, we further enhanced our support by offering a custom SCORM-compliant e-learning package designed specifically for assessors and verifiers. This tailored package is accessible through SKD’s learning management system, ensuring convenient and effective learning opportunities for their team.
In 2020, Polaris Learning engaged in a project to develop cloud-based competence solutions for agency contracting in Drilling and Well Services. Their task involved crafting a versatile framework that seamlessly integrates with clients’ CMS, ensuring comprehensive access and visibility to competence records. This CMS was meticulously designed to optimize crew efficiencies, acknowledging the varied competencies required for different rigs. Hosting this system on PLUS, their cloud-based platform, Polaris ensured its accessibility and reliability. Furthermore, they complemented this development by providing online training for assessors and internal verifiers.
Well Operations Audit of Supply Chain• We have worked together on a wide range of projects.
• When the Oil & Gas UK Guidance on Competency for Wells Personnel were issued by the HSE we were asked to conduct a full independent audit across all positions affected by the Wells Competence guidelines.
• This was an extensive piece of work covering onshore and offshore production, operations, engineering, drilling and geology as well as offshore production and key contractors including a number of drilling contractors and well services companies providing critical positions.
• The audit included a full desktop audit of systems and paperwork as well as onshore and offshore visits to drilling contractors identified for audit.
Transition of organisation’s CMS from paper to online format. Extension to cover other roles and services. Provision of SQA assessor training and third-party verification service.