Treetop Adventure Golf learns that digital game-based training is an evolution not a revolution
Learning and development professionals are perhaps rightly concerned that the digitisation of training could minimise their roles and impact.
After all, accountancy firm PwC predicts that 30% of UK jobs will be impacted by automation by the mid-2030s.
But rather than fear technological progress, L&D leaders could embrace it as an opportunity to upskill and evolve the way they train.
That’s just what Treetop Adventure Golf is doing.
The UK-based leisure venues are using digital training to upskill and upgrade their L&D initiatives.
In fact, Treetop, which offers themed crazy golf adventures (18 holes in a rainforest, anyone?), is not only upskilling the employees taking the digital training, but it’s also developing the skillset of the learning and development team creating the game-based modules.
This was the experience for L&D Manager Lil Courageson, who leads the rollout of Treetop’s training.
Easy-to-use solution
Possibly the most significant change has been the ability for the L&D team to programme and create training with ease.
Courageson said, “I don’t have an IT background, so when someone told me I was going to be creating games myself, I was quite intimidated.”
And we get it, people hear the word ‘programming’ and think they need a masters from MIT. Thankfully, that’s not the case with all digital learning tools.
Owning the content curriculum
Lil was thrilled to see she could take full ownership of the content, without always having to lean on someone from outside the organisation for help.
Now she’s mastered easy-to-use game design tools, she’s able to create training quickly and efficiently. The type of training she’s worked on includes product knowledge quiz questions and scenario-based dialogues focusing on core skills, such as how to engage with customers and the importance of open-ended questions.
Now Lil and the team can take a proactive approach to keeping their curriculum relevant for their teams. Not only that, Lil and the team have grown in confidence and don’t have to rely on an external person to update and build the latest training.
Why switching from prescriptive, reactive training to game-based training is a winner
While training has always been a priority, before implementing game-based training, the L&D offering at Treetop Adventure Golf wasn’t too dissimilar to many other organisations. A physical book and a whole lot of classroom training was the standard.
The team saw an opportunity to enhance their training – and that’s why they made the game-changing switch to digital game-based training. It has:
– allowed Lil and the team to update or add material to modules at short notice.
– given employees real life context to their training. Role plays couldn’t fully simulate what it’s like to be in front of a customer.
– encouraged employees to play an active role in their training.
– offered flexibility. They can now train anytime, anywhere.
For Treetop Adventure Golf’s Head of People Thom Hall and L&D Manager Lil Courageson the ability to programme their own training has been a real game changer. For general manager James Scott and team members Jamie and Shannon, the flexibility and bite-sized modules have changed the way they approach their Treetop training.
“We’re here to give experiences to people.“
– Thom Hall, Head of People, Treetop Adventure Golf
Let’s find out how their Attensi gamified simulation training platform has given them newfound freedom within their hospitality training.
Igniting friendly competition
It’s hardly a surprise that in an organisation where a game is central to the experience that staff quickly latched on to the competition element of Treetop Skills.
Thom, however, was surprised at just how engaged and competitive team members were with the platform. He was surprised at how invested in the competition he became.
The fact that team members were driven to beat their peers to the top of the leaderboard had a drastic impact on completion rates and average number of play throughs (but more on that later).
It’s learning, without the chore
For the team members on the ground, the overwhelming feedback is that the gamified elements to the training mean they often don’t even realise they’re closing their knowledge gaps.
“From playing the game, which I love to do anyway, I’m automatically learning“
– Jamie Johnson , Team Member, Treetop Adventure Golf
Flexible
Anyone working in the busy hospitality sector knows that free time isn’t always a luxury during a busy shift. Taking team members off the floor for lengthy classroom training simply isn’t viable in the long term.
Treetop Skills has provided team members with a mobile-first, flexible training option, where they can dictate the time and place they play their training.
Not only does this allow players to take more ownership over their development, but it also enormously contributes to higher completion rates and improved knowledge retention.
“Because it’s a phone application, you can use it wherever. So whether you’re on your way to work or during work time, it’s very flexible.“
– Shannon Cross, Team Member, Treetop Adventure Golf
The proof is in the figures
Let’s get down to the brass tacks. What impact has Treetop Skills had on both the business and the people of Treetop Adventure Golf?
The team share that engagement since launch has been fantastic. But not only that, it’s remained sustained. Where enthusiasm for other training might have dropped off after the first couple of weeks, the ability to constantly update and evolve Treetop Skills has meant team members always have something to look forward to.
Thom comments that he’s seen a dramatic improvement in the amount of time it takes for new starters to feel like they ‘get it’. They feel confident in their ability to deliver the Treetop experience. Happy team members make happy customers. It’s as simple as that.
And then there’s the figures.
– 6.6 play through repetitions on average per user
– 92% of identified knowledge gaps closed
Not only are team members completing their training, but they’re also revisiting their modules multiple times to improve on their scores. Subsequently, they improve their skills, often without even realising.
That’s the beauty of gamified training. When you add the fun back into learning, the pieces slot together.
Ready to see what gamified simulation training could do for your organisation? Speak to one of our expert team now.