May has been a month of impact and growth across our group. From high-impact open courses to international delivery and leadership development across sectors, our teams have been busy supporting clients to build capability, confidence, and resilience.
We wrapped up two open courses – Coaching for Communication and Leadership Development – while also supporting teams at Ithaca Energy and Numero Uno with training in assessment and verification. From Abu Dhabi to Thurso, and across Scotland, our instructors delivered a wide range of practical, real-world training that is already being applied in the workplace.
Our leadership development programmes also continued to evolve, with progress made across long-term projects with Bells Food Group, Sulmara, Gordon & MacPhail, Fugro, Omega Subsea, and Technip. It’s been a privilege to support these organisations as they invest in their people and performance. Internally, our own instructors have been developing too, with new qualifications and refresher training completed across Aquaterra Training and Bon Accord Training.
This month’s newsletter also explores why Mental Health First Aid training is fast becoming an essential skill in today’s workplaces. As mental health continues to take centre stage in organisational wellbeing strategies, MHFA plays a key role in early intervention, awareness, and support.
We’re also delighted to announce that IED Training has officially joined our group. This addition further strengthens our shared capabilities in health, safety, and wellbeing, and allows us to offer even more value and expertise to our clients.
From Dangerous Goods and Working at Height to free webinars and ILM-recognised training, we have lots of opportunities to build skills, boost compliance, and strengthen performance. Whether you’re looking to refresh existing knowledge or develop new capabilities, there’s something for every team.
This month, we’re excited to announce that IED Training has joined our group, enhancing the extensive capabilities and combined expertise already delivered through Polaris Learning, AquaTerra Training, and Bon Accord Training.
With the addition of IED Training, we now bring even more to our clients. IED Training specialises in health, safety, and wellbeing, delivering accredited courses including NEBOSH, IOSH, and SQA-certified First Aid and First Aid for Mental Health. Their comprehensive training covers not just the basics of workplace safety, but also includes tailored workshops for senior leaders, fire safety consultancy, and health & safety management system support. Their experienced team of industry professionals adds depth and breadth to our group’s expertise, ensuring that our training solutions continue to meet evolving client needs with confidence, competence, and compliance.
Together, we are committed to delivering customised, high-quality training and development solutions that empower your people and strengthen your business.
Read our updated combined brochure on the right to see our increased service offering.
This course is designed for senior managers and directors with responsibility for health and safety in their organisations. Whether you are new to these responsibilities, or seeking to refresh your knowledge and ensure ongoing compliance, this workshop will provide clear, practical guidance. It will help you understand your legal obligations, align health and safety with your business strategy, and build confidence in managing day-to-day risks and incidents.
AquaTerra Training is offering a comprehensive range of professional development courses this June, 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.
This webinar will explore the key competencies assessors and verifiers need to manage both the technical demands and interpersonal aspects of their role. From giving clear, constructive feedback and handling difficult conversations, to accurate documentation and knowing when to escalate issues, we’ll cover the real-world skills that make a difference. The session will also touch on prioritisation, time management, professional judgement, and the ability to balance supporting candidates with maintaining high standards. Whether you're experienced or new to the role, this session will offer valuable tools to strengthen your practice and confidence.
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).
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.