Discover how the leading global airline elevates its corporate training to connect with a new generation of employees, boost knowledge retention, and strengthen company culture through engaging, interactive learning
About Chris Short:As the Learning Operations Manager at Virgin Atlantic, Chris is responsible for all frontline training from cabin crew and airport teams to customer centers and retail stores. The training Chris delivers covers compliance, functional, and mindset training.
The challenge
The aviation industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world, which has meant that compliance training has traditionally been a test of endurance for cabin crew trainees. Recognizing this and to maintain its signature high-energy service, Chris Short, Learning Operations Manager at Virgin Atlantic, knew it needed to revolutionize how learning and compliance training were delivered to make them more engaging for its cabin crew members and delegates.
The solution:
Among many initiatives, Chris and his team introduced Kahoot! 360 as part of their training strategy. This initiative is part of many that have successfully transformed Virgin Atlantic’s compliance, safety, medical aviation, and service training into interactive experiences that have proven to enhance cabin crew knowledge retention. The results of this strategic shift in training were immediate and significant, as Chris Short explains.
“We’ve seen a significant decrease in our final exam failure rates. They’ve gone from 22.5% in the first half of last year to the second half of last year down to 4.5%, so an 18% decrease in final exam failure rates, which Kahoot! has definitely played a part in.”
Engagement during compliance training sessions is important for Chris and the Virgin Atlantic trainers because it ensures that learning is embedded and sticks with participants. The high-stakes nature of aviation means there is an intense focus on successful completion and information retention. Delegates face a steep learning curve, whether it is a six-week new-hire course, a five-day refresher, or a two-day recurrent session, all of which require retaining a significant amount of critical information. Kahoot! 360 acts as a learning platform among trainers and trainees to meet this demand, ensuring the necessary “stickiness” of the learning. Injecting fun and excitement into these compressed training days helps keep energy high and makes the vast volume of material more memorable for delegates, directly supporting their success while maintaining safety standards.
“Engagement in training is so important to make sure that the learning is sticky and it resonates with the delegates who are going through that training. So the more engaging we can make it, the more exciting and fun it can be, the more naturally it sticks with our delegates.”
Virgin Atlantic trainers have also observed Kahoot! 360’s effectiveness in improving learning retention. Katie Bailey, a Crew Training Specialist at Virgin Atlantic, states that when delegates participate in Kahoot! in sessions, they are more open to discussion and exchange opinions and perspectives.
“Kahoot! is not just a quiz, and we are not asking one question after another. Between each question they’ve answered, we can elaborate and ask for their opinions, how they are experiencing this on board the aircraft, what they agree or disagree with, or what they’d like to see more or less of. We can engage more with them in between the questions and bring the session to life.”
“It encourages conversation, it encourages that facilitation and that’s one thing that we love because as you saw today, we can ask the question…but then we can have that discussion afterwards rather than it just being us stood there, telling them information.”
One of the main benefits of using a learning platform like Kahoot! is its ability to uncover the intricate details that might be latent in an employee’s memory. Instead of relying on a traditional, textbook-style review, the interactive and engaging format of Kahoot! acts as an effective mechanism to refresh and reinforce that smaller, critical knowledge, ensuring that staff are fully equipped with all the necessary information in a more memorable and enjoyable environment.
“At Virgin Atlantic, safety is our top priority. Every aspect of our operations is grounded in safety. However, what truly sets us apart is our people. We are committed to investing in our team, and Kahoot! has proven to be a valuable tool in our training strategy, making learning more fun and engaging. Ultimately, it is our dedicated staff that distinguishes us from other airlines.”
The conclusion:
Chris and his team at Virgin Atlantic have transformed traditional compliance training into an interactive and engaging experience. Virgin Atlantic has achieved impressive results, including an 18% decrease in final exam failure rates and improved knowledge retention. Kahoot! 360 has fostered open dialogue, made critical learning more memorable, and connected well with a new generation of cabin crew. This approach proves that incorporating fun and excitement into compliance training is essential for maintaining the highest safety standards and delivering the signature high-energy service that sets Virgin Atlantic apart.
Interested in discovering how Kahoot! can help you boost employee engagement and productivity? Learn more at kahoot360.com or book a meeting with our sales team!
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