Page 33 - Gi flipbook - October 2018

IGEM NEWS | Industrial Affiliates

Wales & West Utilities partners with

Hijinx Theatre to enhance staff training

Wales & West
Utilities partners
with Hijinx Theatre to
enhance staff training

FORTY WALES & WEST UTILITIES cast members have learning disabilities. the communication skills and
staff have undertaken specialist The training was designed to help understanding of the situations
training to enhance the way they focus attention on communication and customers may be in so that we can
communicate with vulnerable and customer service skills for interacting take the appropriate approach.
learning disabled customers. with learning disabled and vulnerable “The training with Hijinx was fantastic
The gas emergency and pipeline customers, clients and service users. and colleagues got a lot from it. As well
service turned to Hijinx Theatre to Elaina Cook, Wales & West Utilities as working to recreate situations in a
provide a bespoke interactive training Priority Customer Service Manager, dedicated training environment, it
session. This saw colleagues given said: “Vulnerability can be caused by a allowed a great deal of discussion on
real-life scenarios in which they had range of factors including illness or a best practice amongst colleagues.
communicate with learning disabled change in personal circumstances, such “We’re committed to continuing to
and otherwise vulnerable customers. as a bereavement or a job loss. work with Hijinx to equip our staff to
Hijinx is a professional theatre “We are doing all we can to ensure deliver the best service to those who
company with a difference – all of its that our colleagues are equipped with need us most.” ■

AWARDS SHOULD STIMULATE MORE FIRMS

TO INVEST IN TRAINING, SAYS DTL

AWARDS CELEBRATING committed to developing their people, District for SP Energy Networks.
LEARNING and development in the and individuals who have seized the The awards were presented this
utility sector should help more opportunity,” said Mr Wood. summer at a lunch event, hosted by
firms to see the value of growing Mr Wood joined judges from the comedian Geoff Norcott, in
their own talent, according to the utilities, consumer policy, technology, Manchester. ■
head of Develop Training. and innovation sectors on the panel
Chris Wood, CEO of Develop Training for the awards, which are a
Limited (DTL), was commenting celebration of dedication, ingenuity
after judging three categories in the and team work in the utilities sector.
Utility Week Stars Awards. The Rising Star category was won
Two of the awards highlighted by Ryan Salmon, Connections
individuals who were showing Delivery Coordinator at SP Energy
exceptional career progression while Networks. The Shooting Star
the third underlined the need for category went to Barry Campbell,
senior individuals to champion Head of Business Change and
learning and development. Project Management Office at Opus
“Too often, we see businesses failing Energy, and the Guiding Star Award
to adequately invest in training, so it was presented to Dave Shepherd,
was great to see companies that are Head of Delivery of the Wirral Chris Wood, DTL

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