How boosting people skills helps in digital transformation: a case study
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-07-2019-0065 |
| Pages | 254-257 |
| Published date | 11 November 2019 |
| Date | 11 November 2019 |
| Author | Michael Brown |
| Subject Matter | Hr & organizational behaviour,Employee behaviour |
How boosting people skills helps in digital
transformation: a case study
Michael Brown
Abstract
Purpose –Vanquis Bank has seen a significant uplift to learning engagement levels after launching a
mobilemicro-learning strategy with a third-party,Netflix style soft skills e-learningplatform.
Design/methodology/approach –The platform offers a convenient way to help staff at all levels
develop soft skills–like negotiation, dealing with difficultconversations, social media at work,team work,
digitalskills, leadership and project management.
Findings –Since launching the programme in December 2018, 41 per cent of employees have
completed an optional soft skills training course, whereas previously, the figure was 2 per cent of all
employees.This represents a 95 per cent uplift in voluntarylearning engagement.
Originality/value –Vanquis Bank aims to create a mind-set of ‘‘learning in work’’, whereby employee
development becomesas an intrinsic part of daily working life, rather than somethingto squeeze into an
alreadyvery busy schedule.
Keywords Employee engagement, e-learning, Learning and Development, Employer brand, Strategy,
Talent management
Paper type Case study
Vanquis Bank has seen a significant uplift to learning engagement levels after
launching a mobile micro-learning strategy with a third-party soft skills e-learning
platform[1]. The company is providing continuous e-learning and soft skills
development opportunities to its 1,700 employees, who are based across three sites in the
UK. Universal access for all employees to an e-learning subscription, which offers a Netflix-
style range of engaging personaldevelopment courses, is a key part of this.
Vanquis specialises in helping people build good credit ratings and offers a range of
financial services to over 3.5 million people. Four times winner of the Moneyfacts Credit
Builder Card Provider of the Year award, the company is known for being innovative and
progressive. With no retail presence, Vanquis trades exclusively online and via its call
centre. Since launching the programme in December 2018, 41 per cent of employees have
completed an optional soft skills training course, whereas previously, the figure was 2
per cent of all employees. This represents a 95 per cent uplift in voluntary learning
engagement.
Although Vanquis has offered online soft skills training before, it was not as successful. We
have seen that people like the new courses because they are fun to watch, interesting and
developed with very high productionvalues for a UK audience.
According to research conducted by GoodHabitz[2], being given the opportunity to
develop their personal skills is rated as highly important by employees of all ages and
backgrounds. The company’s most recent UK trend report showed that 80 per cent of
employees rated being given the chance to learn new skills as more important than having
a salary increase and second onlyto having more quality time with their families.
Michael Brown is Digital
Learning Manager at
Vanquis Bank, London, UK.
PAGE 254 jSTRATEGIC HR REVIEW jVOL. 18 NO. 6 2019, pp. 254-257, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 1475-4398 DOI 10.1108/SHR-07-2019-0065
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