October has been a busy month for Polaris Learning, filled with achievements, global connections, and fresh insights to share with you. Our team has been busy delivering impactful training around the world—from leadership development in The Netherlands and Houston to Train the Trainer sessions in Singapore and Aberdeen. Each of these sessions has been focused on empowering teams to elevate their skills, lead with confidence, and drive high standards across their organisations.
Closer to home, we kicked off October with a lively Lunch and Learn event alongside AquaTerra and Bon-Accord Training Limited. This collaborative session explored key topics around compliance, high-performance leadership, and aligning training with organisational strategy.
In addition, we’re excited to share that we’ve created a new resource hub on our website, where guides on Leadership Development, Competency Management, and Training & Coaching are now available. These resources are designed to help you tackle common challenges with practical, actionable insights, whether you’re navigating leadership transitions or refining your competency framework.
This month, we’re also celebrating the remarkable progress of our Modern Apprentices as they work toward new qualifications, gaining skills and recognition that advance their careers. It’s inspiring to see the dedication of each learner as they achieve new milestones.
We’re also thrilled to present our latest Research Insights, where we explore the impact of customised safety awareness training. Discover how a tailored approach can make all the difference in building a proactive safety culture—essential reading for any organisation focused on creating a safer, more engaged workforce.
Read on to uncover our Product Spotlight on Off-the-Shelf Awareness Training courses and to learn more about our upcoming Train the Trainer webinar, as well as our open courses for early next year. We’re excited to share these updates with you and hope they provide valuable support for your team’s growth and success!
"User-friendly web portal that's easy to navigate—I was able to plan the course at my convenience. The course provided valuable information that I can apply directly to my job. Assignments were clear, and although I needed some guidance on submission, I managed without any issues. I really appreciated the prompt and efficient support from assessors. No further comments for improvement—the course is engaging, interesting, and packed with useful information."
Candidate, L&D9Di on PLUS
Feedback from our L&D9Di Assessor course on the PLUS platform underscores what makes this training effective and valued by our learners:
User-Friendly and Flexible: Learners appreciate the ease of navigating our PLUS platform, which allows them to complete their training at their own convenience. This flexibility makes it ideal for busy professionals who need to fit learning into their schedules.
Practical, Job-Ready Learning: The course delivers valuable, hands-on knowledge that learners can apply directly to their roles. Designed to address real workplace challenges, the L&D9Di Assessor course ensures learners are well-prepared to assess competency in practical settings.
Supportive and Engaging: With clear assignments and prompt support from assessors, learners have everything they need to succeed. Feedback consistently highlights the course as engaging, informative, and supportive, making the learning process both smooth and enjoyable.
Our L&D9Di Assessor course on PLUS is crafted to help assessors thrive in their roles by delivering content that is flexible, practical, and professionally enriching.
This month, we’re highlighting our Off-the-Shelf Awareness Training courses, designed to help your team meet essential safety standards in areas like Manual Handling, Fire Safety, COSHH, and more. These awareness-focused courses are perfect for onboarding new staff or ensuring ongoing compliance, covering everything from Working at Height to Noise Awareness and Risk Assessment.
These courses can come as standard or we can tailor them to fit your processes and procedures. We can build a customised training academy where all your safety training is housed in one easy-to-access platform. Fully branded to reflect your organisation’s identity, this tailored approach ensures that your own safety processes and procedures are embedded into the training, making it more practical and relevant for your team.
Why Choose Tailored Induction Training?
This approach standardises safety awareness while aligning with your organisation’s specific priorities, ensuring that your workforce is well-prepared and compliant. By creating a customised training academy, you can integrate your own safety protocols and procedures, making the training more relevant and practical for your team. Courses like Manual Handling, COSHH, and Fire Safety Awareness are centralised in one platform, making it easier to track progress and maintain compliance across your organisation.
With flexible access, employees can complete training at their convenience, reducing disruption to operations while ensuring they meet essential safety standards. Additionally, custom branding allows the platform to reflect your company’s identity, reinforcing a strong safety culture. This tailored approach not only enhances safety awareness but also strengthens the alignment between safety practices and your organisational values.
Join our upcoming webinar, "Train the Trainer," to explore the critical role trainers play in managing competence within your organisation. While assessors and internal verifiers are often recognised, trainers are equally essential to team development and performance. This session will provide strategies to boost training effectiveness and drive impactful results. We’ll cover the trainer's role in applying the 70:20:10 learning model, understanding where effective learning occurs, and balancing structured "set piece" training with adaptable methods. Topics include comparing trainer-led approaches and coaching techniques, essential skills for effective trainers, and the long-term benefits of investing in your training team. Gain practical steps to enhance your training framework and empower your trainers. Join us on the 6th of November at 11 am to elevate your training and development strategies.
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.