Here's what we believe...

A positive food safety culture is key

Often the root cause of food poisoning outbreaks isn’t lack of safe procedures – but the fact that trained food handlers chose not to follow them. Developing a positive food safety culture is the key to changing this behaviour. A recent global study revealed that 80% of large companies consider achieving this to be their primary training goal.

A positive food safety culture is when food hygiene is a high priority for managers – and team members understand this. There is a willingness to learn from mistakes and strategies are in place to prevent problems recurring. A valuable knock on effect of this is better staff morale, lower staff turnover and greater staff commitment.

A different approach to training is needed

Things are changing in the world of training and traditional methods are just not cutting it. Companies need assurances that the amount of money spent on training is actually making a difference. Too often food hygiene training is seen just as a tick box exercise to comply with the law and little changes when learners return to the workplace.

Compulsory rating schemes which give customers access to the results of a business’s last environmental health inspection – and the popularity of social media as a platform to complain – are driving companies to demand training solutions that will guarantee improvements in food safety behaviour and standards.

Serious gaming is a perfect solution

Most hospitality workers have grown up with and love computer games. Schools and colleges have listened to students demands to “engage me or enrage me” and recognized that different stimuli are needed to motivate this generation to learn. Game based e-learning, sometimes known as ‘serious gaming’ is achieving great results.

More than 2.4 million people work in the hospitality industry in the UK. With nearly 30% foreign born and speaking English as a second language, getting over the language barrier can be a challenge for trainers. Our game has minimal wording with info-graphics used when possible.

Engaging people motivates them to learn

We find that instead of completing their e-learning on their own, our game encourages collaboration. People consult, advise and learn from each other whilst having fun. Most importantly this encourages them to start talking about that normally uncool subject – food safety in their workplace.

Players can repeat each level many times if they want to move up the leader board and beat their team mates. Competition is a great motivator to learn.

Players receive a pass, merit or distinction food hygiene certificate when they have completed all levels. This allows committed team members to stand out and be rewarded for their efforts.

The future of learning is mobile

The internet has revolutionised how people learn. Social media, webinars, video, e-learning, web searches and other technologies can provide a rich blend of learning. Although there is no doubt still a place for workshop training, organising venues and taking team members out for the whole day can be expensive.

Ideally training needs to fit around work schedules and be available when people want to learn. Our game can be played both online or offline – on smart phones, tablets, laptops and desktops. With 90% of 16-24 year olds now owning smartphones, this is truly mobile learning. Your staff can learn how, when and where they want to.

E-learning must be compatible

Traditional courses needed to be SCORM compliant (the global standard for e-learning) if they were to integrate with SCORM compliant learning management systems (online platforms that store employee training records). Unfortunately SCORM compliant courses can’t run offline so a new global standard was introduced – Tin Can API.

Tin Can API (also known as xAPI) ensures that all learning experiences (formal or informal) can be tracked to an individuals training record. Our e-learning is Tin Can compliant. Data may be sent to companies’ learning management systems via our Tin Can Tracker(learning record store).

Like a free Essentials of Food Hygiene Certificate? PLAY DEMO