Tag Archive: Active Team Training

1. White Light Provides Technical Installation for Ground-Breaking Safety Leadership Project

   24 November 2020 10:45 Leave a Comment

   

   Taking place at a purpose-built centre on the Humber, Thrive is a fully-interactive, multi-media safety leadership programme that immerses participants in a real-time, live-action scenario. The concept was created by Active Team Training (ATT) and offers those taking part a truly ground-breaking training experience. Having collaborated with White Light (WL) on previous award-winning projects, ATT approached the company once again to supply the complete technical solutions.
   
   Thrive has been created for renewable energy company Ørsted, who wanted an induction programme for their contractors and employees due to work on Hornsea Two. Situated in the North Sea, 89 km off the Yorkshire Coast, Hornsea Two is an off-shore wind farm that, once completed, will be the largest in the world. It will power over 1.3 million homes with green electricity and its 165 turbines will span across 462km². For a project of this magnitude, Ørsted needed to ensure the most effective safety leadership training was implemented; hence they approached ATT.
   
   Dermot Kerrigan, ATT Co-Director, comments: “Ørsted had seen EPIC, which is our award-winning safety leadership training experience that is specific to the Thames Tideway Tunnel Project. EPIC takes participants on a ‘day in the death’ of a worker who loses their life in a construction accident. The physical layout comprises a number of immersive, site-specific theatre sets, in which participants experience events leading to the fatality, as well as the fatality itself and its consequences. Participants discuss what went wrong and are then supplied with some safety leadership skills before being parachuted back into the scenario, where they apply these techniques and stop the accident from happening. Since its inception in 2015, EPIC has proved to be a game-changer in the way that the construction industry now goes about inducting its workforce. So, Ørsted wanted to do something similar with Thrive”.
   
   It was down to the team at ATT to create a scenario in which those working on Hornsea 2 would be able to become more confident in maintaining a high health and safety standard– given the dangers of the off-shore working environment. Once ATT had decided on a narrative and user journey, they not only needed to find a suitable location to build the experience but ensure they had the technical infrastructure to deliver such an ambitious project; at which point they approached WL.
   
   Lee Dennison, WL’s Head of Business Development, comments: “We travelled up to Grimsby with Dermot and the team where they had secured an appropriate space, which actually used to be an old engineering warehouse. We surveyed the building then drew up the various plans as to which spaces could be used for the various locations featured in the training. Essentially, ATT knew how they wanted the spaces to be utilised and it was our task to provide the technical overlay for each one”.

   

   In total, there were five main creative spaces that would be used as part of the immersive training: the Site Office/HQ; the Flat; the Police Interview Suite; the Welfare Area; as well as the main Site Area itself. Lee explains: “Each one of these spaces had a very particular feel and specification and it was down to us to help create that. For the main Site Area, as this is the space in which participants find themselves at the start of the training, it was vital that they were able to feel fully immersed from the off. As such, we installed a 4m x 25m curved screen, onto which footage of the wind power dockside was projected, as well as an immersive soundscape which made them feel as if they were actually on site.

   He continues: “The Flat was the home of the worker who was involved in the accident and we were able to create a pepper’s ghost effect where participants were able to see into the morgue as well as hear from the surviving child of the worker; ensuring the training was as emotionally impactful as possible. Similarly, the Police Interview Suite was where participants witness the repercussions of what happened through interviews so audio clarity was key. This was also the case for the Site Office, in which we had to create the feeling that we were ‘on-site’ at all times. Ultimately, we had to draw on our technical expertise and prior experience to create a set-up that was as realistic, and therefore as powerful, as possible: something we were able to achieve”.
   
   Once the technical layout was decided, WL had four months to complete the installation and to ensure everything was in place prior to the first round of training. However, the outbreak of Covid-19 saw that this would have to be delayed. Dermot comments: “Similar to most organisations, the impact of Covid has been incredibly frustrating and meant that we’ve had to change our timeframes and the way we work. What was fantastic though was the way WL conducted themselves throughout the whole process. We worked closely with them to discuss what could be achieved within the guidelines, how long it would take and put together a real plan of action to move the project forward. So while it took slightly longer than expected, working together, we finally got to where we needed to be”.
   
   The centre has now opened and, with Covid-regulations in place, means that 18 participants can attend each day. Once restrictions are lifted, this should rise to 39 and the facility will eventually be available to use for any organisation working in the Wind Power and related industries.
   
   Lee concludes: “It was a privilege to build on our existing relationship with ATT and deliver this incredibly ambitious project in what continues to be surreal times. What ATT create is nothing short of extraordinary and we are proud to have been able to help them achieve their technical and creative vision on an important project which genuinely transforms the way people experience health and safety and creates a long-lasting impact in the process”.
   
   Photos courtesy of ATT.

2. Lee Dennison – Five Years at WL…

   7 November 2019 13:31 Leave a Comment

   

   Our Head of Business Development Lee Dennison recently celebrated five years at WL. As such, we thought we’d sit down with him to discuss his time here, his current role and how the company has evolved since he started.

   When Lee first joined WL back in 2014, it wasn’t in response to a specific job advertisement. Rather, the move was a natural progression. He explains: “I’ve always had a very close affinity to WL. When I worked with my previous companies, I knew of their reputation and had often come in contact with its team, particularly Bryan Raven and Richard Wilson. My joining them came after a chance conversation with Bryan who told me that they were keen to expand their audio offering and provide a credible, competitive service for the clients. It sounded like a great opportunity and one I was delighted to take”.

   When Lee joined WL, the company was keen to begin offering audio services in-house as opposed to outsourcing through others. He comments: “What was so exciting about the role was that it presented an opportunity for me to oversee a fresh audio offering, in which I was able to create a structure, assemble a team and work closely with manufacturers to ensure we were making the right level of investment. What really drew me to the role though was WL’s ethos. It is a company with morals and ethics and wanted to offer customers the correct level of support that would be suited for them – something I’ve always been an advocate of”.

   For the next two years, Lee oversaw WL’s audio department, which quickly grew a strong reputation of supplying bespoke audio solutions; particularly in the corporate event, production and installations market. Yet, for Lee, the growth of team remains one of his proudest achievement: “One of the joys of my role is seeing those who work for the company develop their skills and knowledge. These are people like Leo Humphrey, who joined the company in a junior role and is now a Key Account Manager, as well as Kieran Edmonds who’s now a Project Support Engineer in the Installations team. It’s been fantastic to see them progress and grow as individuals, as well as valuable members of the WL team”.

   With the audio department quickly establishing a formidable reputation, Lee’s next role at WL was to oversee the entire Business Development team. He comments: “Similar to when I initially joined WL, my role as Head of Business Development was another natural step. I’ve always enjoyed what I call ‘front-facing’ work in which I listen to what clients want and work closely with them in order to build long-term relationships. I’m often the first point of contact for a lot of them and relish providing the service they expect from WL. Ultimately, people invest in people and, as a company, WL’s greatest strength has always been its staff and this is a mantra we want to hold onto”.

   Having worked on a range of exciting projects, we asked Lee which was his most memorable during his time at WL. Unsurprisingly, there isn’t just one. He recalls: “I’m particularly proud of our work on the Active Team Training EPIC project; which was an experimental and immersive training programme designed for those working on the Thames Tideway Tunnel. It was pioneering at the time and nobody really knew what it was ‘all about’ but it has since proven itself to be an incredible form of health and safety training. It was also fantastic working with Discovery Eurosport on last year’s Winter Olympic Games coverage and showcasing our SmartStage technology; which is now creating a huge buzz in the education, corporate and events sectors”.

   Whilst Lee is happy to reflect on his time at WL so far, he’s mainly excited about the future and the next steps for the company. He concludes: “A large part of my role now at WL is looking forward and asking where we are going and what type of work we want to take on. As a company, we’re always changing, constantly evolving and that’s really exciting to be a part of. We continue to invest in the latest technology, strengthening our expert teams and ensuring we continue offering our clients the highest level of service possible. Here’s to the next five years!”.

3. White Light Provides Technical Installation of Ground-Breaking Health & Safety Training

   8 June 2017 08:51 Comments Off on White Light Provides Technical Installation of Ground-Breaking Health & Safety Training

   Active Training Team (ATT) offers experiential and immersive training programmes in order to bring about behavioural change in people and organisations. The company was recently appointed by Tideway to create an immersive, one-day induction experience for all employees working on the Thames Tideway Tunnel – a multi billion-pound super-sewer being constructed beneath the river Thames. Tideway has a very clear aspiration to deliver transformational health and safety performance and to set new standards, and so it recruited ATT to develop the induction day. White Light was called upon to provide and install the complete technical solution for this award-winning and unique project.

   The project is called EPIC (Employer Project Induction Centre): A Day in the Death of Michael Clark and sees participants experience a fictional incident on a construction site. Attendees, of which more than 6,000 have already taken part, are taken through a variety of situations, from the incident itself to the aftermath in order to see the full impact of such an event. EPIC is specific to Tideway’s current construction project and ATT worked closely with the company to create the programme. Dermot Kerrigan, Director at ATT, comments: “Tideway told us about the project and what they wanted to explore. As a company, we came together and began to storyline various scenarios. These roles are then brought to life by a group of actors who rehearse each scenario to make it appear as realistic as possible”.

   ATT’s role was to supply the complete training package to Tideway, which is everything from the story, production, actors, rehearsals, space, stage management and even equipment; which is where WL came in. Adam Christopher, Dermot’s co-Director at ATT, comments: “As we are all from a theatrical background, we were fully aware of WL’s strong reputation in the industry and how this has now expanded into the installations market. We wanted them to come on board and provide us with the exact technical support that could get the most out of the experience”.

   After initial talks with WL, Head of Business Development Lee Dennison and Technical Solutions Director Andy Hook visited EPIC’s London space to assess which equipment would be the most suitable. Lee states: “EPIC takes you through a variety of scenarios which take place in different rooms across their venue. Therefore it was vital we offered technical support that was perfectly suited to each one”. This included the main space which features a curved 180-degree custom built projection screen using 8 projectors that transport those in attendance onto the construction site. He adds: “The whole point of the training is to make it as realistic as possible. ATT had worked extremely hard to provide life-like, human content, in terms of both the writing and the actors, and we needed to ensure that the equipment complemented this”.

   Having recently been appointed as a d3 Certified Solutions Provider, WL drew on the power of d3 Technologies’ 4×4 pro servers to sit at the heart of the new technical system. The d3 platform allows multiple layers of content to be played and synchronised with multi-channel audio and lighting to create a truly immersive environment. WL used this to turn the 8 projectors and 11 speakers into one giant digital canvas and allow content to be moved around the fully immersive space to suit the scenario. This flexibility also means that the space can be used outside of the training scenarios for immersive presentations and interactive sessions, ensuring maximum usage of the space.

   The audio was supplied as dedicated audio pieces played back from the d3 server using Dante DVS into the Yamaha MRX7-D processor which was then distributed out to 11 discreet EM Acoustics loudspeakers hidden within the space. This created a high impact surround sound environment which further enhanced the realism of the scenario.

   The focus of EPIC is constantly changing as the Tideway construction project advances into different stages. Adam adds: “As the project moves forward, we have to tailor the content, performances and overall layout to match this. Therefore the equipment has to be adaptable as we constantly change”.

   In terms of lighting, WL provided a large data track system which was fitted around the space. This allows for complete flexibility as fixtures can be easily mounted and changed to suit the different scenarios. The main fixtures used were the ETC Irideon FPZs along with the SGM R-2 RGBWs. Both of these are extremely discreet and blend into the surrounding environment. The LED fixtures are also energy efficient and reduce the heat within the space.

   Another reason behind using the d3 platform was its offline features. Andy states: “The d3 platform allows for new training scenarios to be designed, workshopped, programmed and technically rehearsed offline and away from this space. This is particularly important as it allows the venue to be in constant use ensuring downtime costs are kept to an absolute minimum”.

   Another important aspect of the d3 platform was the Multi Transport feature, which allows users to have multiple timelines running simultaneously. Andy adds: “The Multi Transport feature has been unbelievably useful for this project. As EPIC uses several different areas of the building in which is located, this means that the pre-recorded content can be quickly triggered from a central server to suit activities in all zones.”

   The new phase of training started in March this year and over 95% of participants said they would be more confident in challenging poor health and safety practice as a result of the induction. Dermot adds: “The aim of this project was to ensure that those working on Tideway’s construction project received health and safety training that would make an impact and that they could then implement when they were out in the real world. Our feedback has shown that we’ve achieved this with the help of our in-house team, the group of creatives involved and, of course, WL for supplying such excellent equipment”.

   Andy adds: “ATT approached us with an idea of what they wanted to achieve and we provided the exact technical solutions to do just this. We were able to develop their initial idea by using the very latest technology to push the boundaries of what they previously thought was possible. EPIC is a great example of us drawing on technology from a range of markets to create an immersive and dynamic environment which gets the most out of the project, both in terms of user experience and the profitability of that space”.

   Photos courtesy of Tideway.