FOR some employees, the very mention of training events such as health-and-safety sessions has them devising “stay awake – stay concentrated” strategies in an effort to bear with any upcoming seminar for as long as possible.
While match sticks aren’t quite required to prop attendees’ eyes open, there’s no doubt that such staff training certainly isn’t renowned for engaging and inspiring employees.
This, though, can throw up significant problems for employers who must make staff aware of essential information which is vital for them to carry out their roles as safely and efficiently as possible.
One Aberdeen-based company claims to have conjured up the answer to this issue by combining magic and entertainment to deliver highly innovative training seminars which not only engage attendees, but have a major impact on maximising their retention of information.
Presenting and magic firm Fifth Dimension – which is made up of a team of highly experienced corporate presenters who are also magicians and entertainers – is currently revolutionising such training with its special delivery style, called Magically Enhanced Training.
The company’s imaginative training methods involve the use of humour and magic, which brings often dry information to life.
Presented in an entertaining format, the practical sessions see participants get involved, assisting the team in illustrating and conveying key messages.
Fifth Dimension partner Ivor Smith says that the tailor-made seminars – which are carefully devised to maximise their impact on participants – are extremely popular and highly successful.
He said: “We all know that it’s far easier to learn about a subject – and retain key information relating to the topic – if it really interests and engages us and, in a fresh approach to the delivery of training, we identified that the introduction of magic and entertainment could have a major impact on reinforcing the learning process of participants.
“Through entertaining, rather then lecturing, we are able to effectively educate. The feedback we have received from companies we have worked with shows they are reaping the rewards from significantly increased levels among staff of knowledge, awareness and enthusiasm towards the specific area we have taught on.
“The magic and humour we use in our presentations have a major impact on boosting the attention levels of attendees and, as they focus, their retention levels are maximised, meaning they remember key messages long after the event is over, increasing the likelihood of them applying what they have learned to their day-to-day duties.”
In an exciting development for the firm – which already has a wealth of impressive experience in presenting training seminars across the UK for staff operating in the onshore oil and gas sector – it is currently working with major energy company Apache to present magically enhanced HSE (Health Safety & Environmental) sessions to staff onboard offshore platforms.
In order to fulfil the contract, the company’s team of presenters are undertaking 10 two-day trips to the platforms in order to ensure that all staff receive the training.
Ivor added: “The securing of this offshore contract, on the back of the completion of many onshore projects, highlights just how effective our clients feel the presenting of training seminars through magic can be.
“Through injecting creativity into what can, at times, be perceived as a dry topic, we deliver serious and important messages in a fun way which sees key themes not only presented, but – essentially – retained.”