June 2025

Introduction

From qualifications achieved to tailored training, insightful events, and sector-specific development, June has been a month of continued momentum across our training group.

In this newsletter, we start by celebrating recent learner achievements — including Food and Drink and Seafood qualifications, SVQs in Management, and assessor awards completed both by clients and members of our own team. We also highlight recent training delivery with organisations such as Spirit Energy, Gordon & MacPhail, Kettle Produce, Omega Subsea and Odfjell, as well as reflections from our recent Health & Safety for Managers course and our latest Lunch and Learn session in Inverurie — a brilliant day of discussion around training, competence, and performance.

This month’s Service Spotlight focuses on our Assessor and Verifier support — including full SQA qualifications, assessor refresher training, CMS health checks, and reviews of in-house capability. Whether you’re looking to build a new assessor team or strengthen what’s already in place, we provide practical, flexible support that’s built around your organisation.

In Research Insights, we examine why hands-on, practical training still plays a crucial role in high-risk industries — even in an increasingly digital world. Drawing on research and real-world examples, the article explores where digital tools can support, and where real-world experience remains essential.

We also shine a light on recent learner feedback, with strong praise for our instructors and the impact of our training — from confidence-building and clarity to delivery style and practical relevance. It’s a great reminder of the difference high-quality, well-supported learning can make.

Finally, we’ve included details of our upcoming training courses in July, including specialist modules in Dangerous Goods, Confined Space, and Working at Height, alongside ILM-recognised Train the Trainer — all designed to equip teams with essential, transferable skills.

Thanks as always for reading — we hope you enjoy this month’s update and we look forward to supporting you in the months ahead.

What We Have Been Up To

A huge well done to Aaron Murray from Rora Dairy, who has completed his qualification in Food and Drink Operations at SCQF Level 6. His knowledge of his role and the wider processes within the business was clear throughout — a great achievement!

Congratulations also to Cameron Mill, Trainee Manager at ABP Perth, who has successfully completed his Modern Apprenticeship and SVQ in Management at SCQF Level 7. Cameron consistently demonstrated excellent understanding and effort in his submissions — a fantastic result, well done!

Also a big well done to Monika at JK Thomson, who has just completed her qualification in Fish and Shellfish Processing Skills at SCQF Level 5! Great work Monika!

We’re delighted to recognise two of our own — Helena Akroyd and Scott Fleming from our Food & Drink team — who have successfully achieved their SQA L&D9Di Assessor Awards. They were proudly presented with their certificates by Polaris Learning Managing Director, Keith Adam. Well done both!

In our recent visit to Fugro, Keith had the pleasure of presenting Derek Aitken with his SQA L&D11 certificate. Congratulations, Derek! Although SQA is transitioning the Assessor and Verifier awards to CLD9Di and CLD11, we are continuing to support our clients through this change. That includes ensuring those who began under the previous framework can complete their qualifications and still receive formal recognition. Great to see ongoing commitment to quality assessment, well done again to Derek!

Meanwhile, Gemma delivered a tailored Assessor Training Workshop to Spirit Energy in Barrow-in-Furness, aligning the training closely with their internal systems. The bespoke approach provided immediate value, and candidates are now fully equipped to carry out real assessments within their Competence Assurance process.

In June, we hosted a webinar on the updated SQA Assessor and Verifier Awards. A big thank you to everyone who joined us — it was fantastic to see so many organisations, including Fugro, James Fisher Energy, TAQA, PBS by Ponticelli, and Atlantic LNG, staying up to date and ready for the changes ahead.

In June, we hosted our Health & Safety for Managers course at AquaTerra Training. Led by Stan Brown, the session covered key legal responsibilities, compliance, and incident investigation — helping managers reduce risk and protect their teams. Thanks to all who attended!

We were thrilled to host a Lunch and Learn session in Inverurie this month — a fantastic day of insights and discussion around training, competence, and learning and development. Topics included managing high-risk hazards, from PUWER to toolbox talks; effective onboarding using the 70:20:10 model and moving beyond tick-box learning; coaching and mentoring, with a focus on structure and measuring impact; and agile competency management, looking at how to bridge the gap between process and performance. A big thank you to everyone who attended — we’re already looking forward to the next one! Onboarding and the 70:20:10 Model – moving beyond tick-box learning Coaching and Mentoring – structuring and measuring impact Agile Competency Management – bridging the gap between process and performance Thanks again to all who attended — we’re already looking forward to the next one!

This month, we continued our second year of leadership development at Gordon & MacPhail, delivering seven sessions across different groups — great to see the continued engagement from their team. We were also pleased to begin working with Kettle Produce, delivering leadership training to their teams, and with Omega Subsea, where we delivered resilience training as part of our growing partnership. And at Odfjell, we delivered our Train the Trainer workshop remotely to their global team — a successful and collaborative session with strong engagement throughout.

We're excited to announce that IED Training Solutions Ltd has joined our growing training group, alongside AquaTerra Training, Bon Accord Training, and Polaris Learning. IED brings fantastic expertise in leadership, resilience, trauma risk management, and safety training — strengthening our ability to deliver impactful training in high-pressure environments.

Congratulations to Charlie, Director at AquaTerra Training, for being shortlisted in the Small Business category at the upcoming Director of the Year Awards. A well-deserved recognition for the leadership that’s helped shape our group!

Paul, Instructor at AquaTerra Training, has been working with Career Ready Scotland, mentoring Keryn from Inverurie Academy. Keryn started her internship at AquaTerra on the 30th of June — we’re delighted to support her journey!

We’re proud of the great feedback Bon Accord Training continues to receive:

- “Enjoyed the course. Matt explains and demonstrates everything perfectly.”

- “10/10 presentation by Peter Mackenzie — delivered perfectly.”

- “Excellent course with Liam — lots of valuable information.”

- “Very informative. John is an excellent instructor.”

- “Great course. Craig is a great instructor.”

- “Really good instructor. Mark is helpful and kind.”

- “Very easy to understand. Iain helped me a lot and now I feel confident.”

Testimonials of the Month

It’s always fantastic to hear such positive feedback from our learners — and these recent comments highlight what makes our training stand out. From SVQ qualifications to resilience workshops, our team continues to deliver engaging, supportive, and high-impact learning experiences. Whether it’s Laura’s responsive support helping learners stay on track, or our trainers creating space for reflection and meaningful discussion, we’re proud of the difference our team makes every day.

Research Insights

Introduction

In today’s digital era, organisations are increasingly adopting online and blended learning for employee training. E-learning modules, virtual reality (VR) simulations, and remote instruction have become popular due to their convenience and cost-effectiveness. However, in high-risk industries such as construction, oil & gas, logistics, and manufacturing, hands-on practical training remains irreplaceable. This is especially true for tasks like confined space entry and working at height, where the margin for error is slim. Despite the rise of digital learning tools, there are critical reasons why on-site, experiential training is still paramount in these sectors. This article explores those reasons, drawing on industry examples and recent research.

High-Risk Industries Demand Real-World Experience

High-risk workplaces involve hazards that are immediate and potentially fatal. For example, working at height consistently tops the causes of workplace fatalities. In Great Britain alone, 40 workers died from falls from height in 2022/23, up from 29 the previous year (Liversedge, 2023). Falls have long been the leading cause of occupational death, most of them occurring in construction. Likewise, confined spaces pose unique dangers – toxic atmospheres, low oxygen, engulfment – that can quickly incapacitate or kill an untrained worker. Over a recent five-year period in the UK, 24 workers died from drowning or asphyxiation in confined spaces, with many more injured (Lee, 2025).

These sobering statistics underscore that unsafe acts in these environments can have immediate, deadly consequences. In such contexts, theoretical knowledge from an online course is not enough. Workers must be able to recognise hazards and respond correctly under pressure, which is best developed through real-world practice. Regulatory bodies such as the UK’s HSE and OSHA in the US mandate practical training for many high-risk tasks. In Canada, Ontario’s Regulation 213/91 requires construction workers to complete in-person Working at Heights training. These requirements reflect the reality that life-critical skills cannot be learned by theory alone.

The Limits of Digital-Only Training

Digital training has its strengths. It can deliver regulatory knowledge efficiently, increase reach, and standardise baseline awareness. VR and simulators offer a risk-free environment to practice procedures, especially for rare events. However, there are fundamental limitations that prevent digital-only methods from fully preparing workers in safety-critical roles.

No matter how advanced a simulator is, it cannot replicate the full tactile, multi-sensory experience of a real environment. A VR confined space might look convincing, but it can’t reproduce the heat, the claustrophobia, or the challenge of manoeuvring with full breathing apparatus. Practical drills with real equipment provide essential physical experience.

Similarly, online training cannot assess the ability to safely perform critical tasks—such as properly tying off a harness or conducting a gas test in a confined space. Some skills must be physically demonstrated, and habits corrected in real time.

Engagement and memory retention are also key issues. Passive formats like videos and slides tend to result in lower retention, especially for physical and procedural knowledge. Studies show that interactive, hands-on learners retain safety knowledge longer than those trained through lecture or self-paced online courses (Minnick et al., 2022).

Safety is also a team activity. Communication, coordination, and peer awareness are vital in many high-risk scenarios. In-person training fosters discussion, trust, and realistic team-based simulations that cannot be reproduced in a self-paced online environment.

Why Practical Training Still Matters

Experiential learning helps bridge the gap between knowing and doing. Training facilities can simulate realistic work environments—confined space entries, working at height, machinery operations—where learners can practice using the same equipment they’ll rely on in the field.

This allows learners to rehearse responses, build muscle memory, and develop confidence in controlled yet realistic settings. Instructors can offer immediate feedback, correct unsafe practices, and build understanding through repetition. This kind of feedback loop—observe, correct, repeat—is what builds true competence.

Research shows that organisations that implement regular, hands-on safety training see tangible reductions in incidents and improvements in worker preparedness and confidence (Burke et al., 2006; Gerber & Holder, 2023). Beyond just ticking compliance boxes, this kind of training can transform safety culture.

The Case for Blended Learning

None of this is to suggest that digital tools don’t have a role. On the contrary, the most effective training programmes are often blended. E-learning can cover theory and background information in advance, making classroom time more efficient. VR tools can supplement practical sessions by preparing learners for complex or hazardous scenarios.

But digital tools should support—not substitute—physical training. Final validation of skills must take place in realistic settings under the guidance of experienced trainers. As recent studies and safety guidelines confirm, certain competencies simply cannot be developed remotely (Greene and Marcham, 2019).

Conclusion

In high-risk industries, practical training remains indispensable. It provides the physical realism, behavioural conditioning, and teamwork dynamics that digital formats cannot replicate. While online learning brings flexibility and scale, it must be seen as a complement—not a replacement—for hands-on experience.

For safety-critical roles, the most important lessons are not just learned; they are felt, practised, and repeated. In a moment of crisis, it’s not the quiz score that will save a life, but the confidence and competence built through doing. That is why, even in a digital world, practical training still matters.

Service Spotlight

Assessor and Verifier Services

Maintaining high standards in assessment is essential — whether you’re delivering in-house training or working within a formal qualification framework. We support your organisation with a complete range of services:

✅ Assessor & Verifier Qualifications (SQA CLD9Di, CLD11)
Assessor and Verifier training to give your team the confidence and competence to assess fairly and consistently within your own systems. Delivered onsite or online — and on successful completion, participants receive an SQA internally recognised qualification.

✅ Assessor Refresher Training
Ideal for those already qualified but needing a confidence boost or a chance to refocus on best practice. A practical and time-efficient option to keep skills sharp.

✅ CMS Health Check
A structured review of your Competence Management System to check effectiveness, alignment, and compliance — with clear feedback and priorities for action.

✅ In-House Capability Review
We review your current assessor and verifier provision and provide clear, actionable recommendations to address any gaps, strengthen consistency, and build internal confidence.

News and Upcoming Courses

AquaTerra Training is offering a comprehensive range of professional development courses this July, covering a variety of high-demand areas including Dangerous Goods, Working at Height, Confined Space, and more. These courses are designed to equip participants with essential skills and qualifications, from OPITO-authorised training to in-depth refreshers and specialist modules.

The 3-day Train the Trainer course enables participants to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to train in group sessions or 1 to 1. ( Participants will receive a certificate from the Institute of Leadership & Management, as this training programme is ILM Recognised).

Book now by emailing info@polaris-learning.com