Digital skills training for the Welsh Local Government Association
We helped the Welsh Local Government Association (WGLA) digital team improve the user-centred design skills of government officers across 20 local authorities.
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The WGLA needed training to support its new content design and user research frameworks. It also wanted to improve knowledge of user centred design across local authorities to help them build user-centred digital services to benefit their local communities.
In partnership with our friends at Basis, we successfully bid to deliver 17 courses in 10 different disciplines covering basic, advanced and senior levels of:
content design
user research
service design
journey mapping
The training programme had to be delivered before the end of the financial year – giving us only two months to prepare and deliver all the courses.
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Despite the tight deadline we were able to hit the ground running. Crocstar has been providing content design training in the public sector since the launch of GOV.UK in 2012 so we have plenty of core learning materials on which to build tailored courses.
We’ve also delivered content design and strategy services in local and central government while Basis has a wealth of experience in the same sector, delivering agile user-centred design solutions.
Drawing on our joint experience we were able to use real examples to give context and meaning to the courses. Participants were able to see how they might use content design techniques in their roles, how to work with others to create user-focused content and share learnings with each other.
The WGLA wanted its government officers to leave the training feeling confident to apply their new knowledge from day one. To make sure every participant engaged with, understood and could apply the theory we used a participatory approach to facilitation that included liberating structures.
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We trained over 100 local government officers from 20 of the 22 Welsh Local Authorities within 2 months, which was a huge task and a real team effort.
As well as delivering the courses, we worked in a small agile team with WLGA on the logistics of delivery, scheduling courses and managing sign ups to give participants a seamless experience.
Feedback on the programme was overwhelmingly positive. Participants gave an average satisfaction rating of 8.4 out of 10 and 83.3% said they would recommend the course they attended to a colleague.
WGLA reports that new knowledge is being applied across service areas from planning and development management to social care.
The stats
over 100 government officers trained from 20 local authorities
17 courses delivered in 10 different disciplines
average satisfaction rating of 8.4 out of 10
83.3% of participants would recommend the course to a colleague
CLIENT FEEDBACK
“I have already recommended that my colleagues try to find a date on future courses. Christine creates a very comfortable environment, and her course content is superb.”
“A terrific session, just how learning sessions should be. Focused, on point, relative to people’s retention capacity. Thank you so much!!!”
“I enjoyed Christine's session, she was very informative and at this level didn't use too much jargon. I would highly recommend any of Christine's sessions. ”