By Lawrie Day, CEO at Cognitas Global
Today’s public sector organisations face unprecedented challenges in training and development. Despite real world risks such as cyber breaches greater than ever before, the UK Government and public sector departments are under pressure to achieve more with less in terms of training their people, stretching limited budgets whilst still delivering quality training.
Government, public sector and, in particular, L&D leaders, need to upskill and reskill workers in order to tackle critical challenges – from digital transformation to leadership development.
In embracing new immersive approaches to train more people, government organisations can save time, reduce expenses, improve worker productivity and satisfaction, whilst meeting their compliance and capacity needs.
Why public sector L&D leaders must improve their training delivery
The world is more unpredictable than ever for government and public sector organisations today. Cyberattacks on national infrastructure, sudden supply chain problems, threats to space and maritime assets, healthcare systems that are pushed to their limits, and regulatory scrutiny that is getting stricter all the time – there has never been more pressure to be ready.
Organisations face a critical skills shortage requiring rapid and effective upskilling and retraining of their workforces. Remote and hybrid work models are becoming permanent fixtures. It’s no surprise that time consuming traditional training methods are increasingly seen as ineffective, with workers disengaged.
Coupled with standard online training tools leading to poor attention, limited retention, and reduced application of learning, training is neither time nor cost efficient.
The limitations of Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Whilst there is a place for Learning Management Systems (LMS) – they are great for sending out information and keeping track of compliance, making sure that everyone finishes the required training modules – they have serious limitations when it comes to situations where real-world decisions can mean life or death.
Organisations have a hard time connecting LMS use to real-world results, lower risk, higher productivity, or higher value. People are rarely tested on how well they work together, prioritise, and handle stress in high-stakes situations.
In the public sector, finishing an online module isn’t enough to say that someone is “ready” for real world situations. Immersive training fills this important gap by giving experiences, behavioural insights, and hands-on learning that an LMS alone simply can’t.
How an immersive learning platform transforms training
Advances in cloud technology and immersive platforms have made it much easier to do realistic training by enabling people to train alongside their jobs. This way, it’s business as usual providing critical services while also learning important skills.
Public sector teams can run crisis simulations right in the places where they work with the right people. They can bring together learners from multiple locations in collaborative virtual environments that foster engagement and peer learning.
Training is adaptable, frequent, and team leaders can design tailored immersive learning scenarios that address their specific organisational challenges and objectives. In addition, expert facilitation guides participants through scenarios that build practical skills and knowledge retention. People retain up to 75% of what they learn through immersive experiences, compared to just 10–20% with standard slide presentations.
Most importantly, the platform can reduce training costs by up to 60% and decrease training time while improving outcomes. With advanced analytics that capture data this can create bespoke skills gap analysis and demonstrate its value for future training investment decisions. This means that those who embrace innovative learning solutions stand to gain a significant competitive advantage.
The public sector needs to embrace technology to grow
In today’s world, organisations must show that their teams are skilled and ready, even when under the most pressure. Learning must be based on the real problems teams face, with performance clear and measurable, and improvement constant.
With a blend of the right people and technology, public sector organisations can confidently face the problems of today and tomorrow. Experiential learning gives public sector organisations the power to:
- Build and measure operational capabilities with confidence
- Strengthen collaboration across agencies and teams
- Provide clear assurance to ministers, boards, and regulators
- Protect the people and services society depends on every day
In addition, AI functionality within the platform now provides real time analysis providing greater insight and enabling the analysis and reporting of learning to be achieved within hours and not weeks.
Defining a new era in Government learning
It’s important for L&D leaders to undertake a full assessment of specific training needs to enable them to scale training investments effectively. With the right platform, teams can develop tailored immersive learning scenarios that address their specific organisational challenges and objectives. Advanced analytics can deliver bespoke skills gap analysis and demonstrate return on investment.
Forward thinking organisations aren’t choosing between digital and in-person training; they use both. While digital, cloud-based simulations make sure that people regularly and without interruption build their skills, live crisis workshops build trust, leadership, and a shared understanding of the situation. This mixed approach makes readiness more than just a yearly task; it becomes a strength that grows to counter the changing risks of the future.
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