The Assembly

In this interview, Adam chats with Don Taylor, Chair of the Learning Technologies Conference and Learning and Skills Group, as well as the Network Chair at VC Emerge Education.

Don runs the Global Sentiment Survey, which finds out what L&D professionals think will be hot this year and the main challenges they foresee. 

In this episode, Adam and Don discuss:

1. The top five answers of the Global Sentiment Survey.
2. How the answers in the survey are analysed.
3. The challenges around AI for L&D professionals.
4. The differences between the first survey in 2016 and 2024, moving from social learning to AI.

Download the GSS: https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/global-sentiment-survey-2024/

Connect with Don on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldhtaylor/

Are you future-ready? 

Join Adam Lacey and Liggy Webb as they discuss the ten behavioural skills they believe will be essential to humans as we head into the age of AI.

Designed for anyone in a learning or leadership position. This session covers:

• Understanding critical behavioural skills designed to enable your teams in the future.
• Learning some quick tips for how to help develop Future Human skills.
• Building an appreciation for why humanness will be so important over the coming years.

Find out more about Liggy Webb: https://www.liggywebb.com/
Find out more about Adam Lacey and Assemble You: https://www.assembleyou.com/

In this interview, Adam chats with Stephen Holderness, Content and Digital Learning Lead at AO. 

Stephen leads the transformation of their digital learning offer and has driven engagement in digital learning to record numbers by aligning it to the values of the business as well as the people in it.

In this episode, Adam and Stephen discuss:

1. The power of using different modalities to increase engagement with learning in L&D
2. The importance of speaking with employees doing the learning helps you to provide what's needed. 
3. The L&D journey AO has gone on over the last five years.
4. What has worked well, what hasn't, and what the team has learned.
5. How to support a multi-faceted business that's also growing rapidly!
6. How to move towards a more learner-led culture.
7. Stephen's top tips for anyone starting in L&D right now including being bullish and market, market, market. 

In this episode, Adam interviews Nishant Raj, Co-Founder of Virtual Learning Factory about VR and digital twins for small manufacturing businesses.

Nishant has over a decade of experience in the manufacturing industry and is an entrepreneur who leverages data and technology to create value for customers and stakeholders. 

He’s co-founded the Virtual Learning Factory. This innovative venture is dedicated to assisting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in upskilling their workforce through the use of digital twins for both training and operational purposes. Driven by a vision to empower SMEs, Nishant aims to propel them to new heights with the aid of enabling technologies.

In this episode, Nishant talks Adam through the consumer-grade virtual replicas, or digital twins he and his team build to enable small manufacturing businesses to train people at scale on complex machinery. Nishant discusses how they create these replicas, and the impact this has on frontline training. 

Links:

• Website: https://virtuallearningfactory.com/
• Demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6JqJAYrA5Y
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishant-raj-621a0a196/ 
• Linkedin VLF: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/virtual-learning-factory

In this interview, Adam speaks with Sophie Bolzer, CEO of Audvice.

Sophie is CEO and founder of Audvice, a private and secure podcasting solution that unlocks the power of voice to onboard, train and update employees more effectively. 

Audvice helps companies of all sizes, including Fortune 500 organisations, turn internal knowledge and insights into microlearning podcasts people find more time for.

In this episode, Adam and Sophie discuss the benefits of using audio learning to increase engagement with frontline or deskless workers. 

Links:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-bolzer/
• https://www.audvice.com/

In this interview, Adam speaks with Rick Hopcroft, Learning & Development Manager at Toi Ohomai, Te Pūkenga - The New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.

Rick has over a decade of experience in the field of Learning and development, where he plays a pivotal role in supporting staff in their professional journey. Alongside this, Rick serves as a Training Officer at the New Zealand Red Cross within the Disaster Welfare and Support Team, demonstrating his commitment to professional growth and community service. 

His diverse background has equipped him with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities that exist within the Learning and development landscape, including the unique challenge of supporting largely deskless volunteers.

In this brilliant episode, Adam and Rick discuss how to facilitate learning and development for academics and volunteers. 

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-hopcroft-landd/

In this interview, Adam speaks with Steven Milicia, Head of Learning and Development at Stirling Ackroyd Group.

Steven is an experienced L&D Manager, Performance Coach, Trainer, Project, Financial and People manager. As a values-based leader, Steven promotes and implements a learning and development culture within the Stirling Ackroyd Group and is passionate about empowering everyone to develop through training, coaching or mentoring. He believes in personal growth, achievement, inspiration and challenge.

In this riveting episode, Adam and Steven discuss the importance of speaking with employees to pinpoint what they want to develop and how they like to learn to keep engagement high.

Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-milicia-chartered-mcipd/

In this interview, Adam speaks with Viki Howden, HR Consultant and coach, currently working as a lecturer at Exeter College.

Viki teaches various leadership courses with a focus on People Practices. She worked across a number of business sectors, from manufacturing to public service. Viki's passion lies in creating learning cultures and developing individuals whilst finding smart learning solutions for organisational needs.

In this thought-provoking episode, Adam and Viki discuss how to enable learning with different modalities, including augmented reality and VR. As well as how the L&D landscape has changed post-COVID. 

Links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/viktoria-howden-assoc-cipd-cmgr-mcmi-b0780a63/

Adam speaks with Edd Gallier, Head of Learning & Development at Leonardo Hotels in this interview. 

Edd is a learning thought leader, regular conference speaker and awards host, contributing to learning publications in the areas of online and blended learning, learning and communication technology, and guest service. 

He is also a publisher of award-winning online learning and is regularly part of the team for new hotel openings, rebrands, and Food and Beverage operations.

In this brilliant episode, Adam and Edd speak about how utilising technology can help frontline staff maximise their learning potential. 

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-gallier-leonardohotels/

In this interview, Adam speaks with Nicola Manuel, Learning and Development Manager for Clean Linen Services. 

Nicola has worked in a development role for the past 30 years in various industries. Starting as an outdoor activity instructor to qualifying in sports management. Within a few years, she moved from the physically active sports world into a business role and delivered computer software training. 

Nicola enjoys being a coach and a trainer, using technology and traditional methods to help individuals grow within themselves and through their organisations.

In this fascinating episode, Adam and Nicola go into detail on training and skills development on a production floor.

Links:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-manuel-9878b92/
• https://www.cleanservices.co.uk/