Aggreko | Bespoke Safety Programme

About Aggreko

Aggreko is the global leader in temporary power, heating and cooling. The company employs over 6,000 people and operates across the world in more than 200 locations in 80 countries, and has offices on every continent. It has more than 10 gigawatts of power across its fleet globally and supplies temporary power to businesses, large events, music festivals, sporting events, industrial sites, and mines. They have supplied power to sporting events, including the Ryder Cup, the FIFA World Cup, Formula E Motor Racing and the Olympic Games.

They operate in line with four key values: Be Together, Be Expert, Be Dynamic and Be Innovative. It's these values that drive Aggreko's commitment to stringent safety standards across all their operations – protecting their employees, customers and local communities worldwide.

The Challenge

After reviewing recent incidents and commissioning a safety culture survey, Aggreko decided to advance its front-line safety management by implementing a learning program for its 600+ managers and supervisors.

Aggreko wanted to roll out the learning program to all 600+ front-line managers and supervisors across the company. Due to their global presence, it needed to be translated into 7 languages. It also needed to be flexible, accessible, easily understood and of high quality.

Some managers and supervisors were located in areas with no internet access, so any online learning materials had to be available offline, as well.

Their aims included:

• Increase engagement and awareness of the safety responsibilities and expectations of Aggreko managers and supervisors.
• Raise the profile and importance of safety on the front line.
• Give managers and supervisors the skills to lead safety and have the confidence to have safety conversations with staff who aren't acting safely.
• Make sure managers and their teams are working the Aggreko way in relation to safety.
• Enable HSE managers to take a coaching/supporting role to help front line managers and supervisors carry out their safety management duties.
• Prevent incidents that could result in injuries or fatalities.

The Solution | Bespoke Safety Management Programme with Astutis

Based on the scope and objectives provided by Aggreko, we designed a structured bespoke program aimed at managers and supervisors to train front line managers in best practice safety management and leadership.

The program was built from the ground up and tailored to reflect Aggreko's own policies, procedures and values. Aggreko's managers and supervisors already had a basic understanding of health and safety. Aggreko wanted to make sure that they also had the leadership skills to influence behaviour and improve safety culture. As such, it was important that the learning program had a 360° approach to employee development.

To achieve this, we designed the learning experience based around the 70/20/10 methodology, which breaks down in proportion how people learn effectively. This combined a structured core learning (10%), relationship and interaction-based learning (20%), and on-the-job learning (70%).

The learning program included elements of online, face-to-face sessions and practical, hands-on activities.

The program was a multiphase learning experience. To make sure each learner completed each part of the program on time, they were split into groups of 12-15. Each group started the learning program together and worked through it at the same time with clear deadlines for each part.

The program was split into 5 sections:

• Introductory video – The aim of the introduction was to motivate managers and supervisors to commit to the learning experience. We worked with Aggreko's internal communication team to script the video, making sure the corporate values were properly communicated. Our multimedia team filmed the video at Aggreko's UK offices using high quality green screen equipment. The video featured the CEO of Aggreko to show the importance of the learning program as well as relevant imagery, such as Aggreko's Orange Rules icons, and extracts from the course.

• Online bite-size modules – This section focused on building Aggreko's managers and supervisors' core knowledge of safety management principles and how to put these principles into practice at Aggreko. The six modules covered: Safety, why bother?; Accidents; Risk management; Common hazards for Aggreko; Management systems and the manager role; and Human factors and safety behaviour. Each module was 10 minutes long and included text, imagery, simple interaction and video/animation. Each module had a multiple-choice assessment with constructive feedback on incorrect answers.

• A coached face-to-face session – After completing the online modules, learners were encouraged to put their knowledge and understanding into practice in a one-day group session. An Aggreko HSE manager led the session so they could emphasise the importance of the program, create a business-wide approach to safety, and boost relationships. The session was split into two parts. During the first, the group studied incidents based on Aggreko case studies. The second part of the day centred on the leadership role of the manager and supervisor. They looked at how they can shape their teams approach and attitude to safety through observation, engagement, intervention, positive reinforcement and leading by example.

• A workplace project – Learners undertook a work based project as the final stage of the learning program. The project was based on the learner proactively identifying unsafe acts or behaviours in their place of work. They then had to show that they engaged with the team member and took personal responsibility to see through any necessary actions. Ultimately, the HSE manager was responsible for signing off the learner's project before handing it to the line manager for a final review.
• Summary and feedback – A critical element of the program was a summary video that mirrored the introduction, again featuring the CEO. The aim of this was to recap on the lessons learnt and reinforce the manager and supervisor responsibilities and expectations. It also congratulated learners on completing the program and inspired them to put in place what they have learnt.

Delivered by expert Astutis trainers and Aggreko's own HSE managers (who received coach development training from Astutis), the course provided practical exercises, case studies, and real-world insights to ensure managers can apply their learning immediately.

Our Growing Partnership | We Do More Than You Think

Astutis' approach to delivering large-scale projects such as this is to work in collaboration with the client. The program was overseen by our project management team which was made up of our Technical Director, Learning Experience and Project Manager, Senior HSE Consultant, and International Account Manager.

Astutis and Aggreko worked in a joint effort to ensure delivery was on time, to budget, and to specification.

Sam Baxter, Global Safety Learning Manager at Aggreko PLC, led the partnership with Astutis throughout the development and delivery of the bespoke safety management programme.

"Partnering with Astutis was easy. They listened and understood our objectives and were open and flexible to change. Together, Aggreko and Astutis created an innovative and engaging learning intervention combining dynamic online learning and coaching to maximise both effectiveness and efficiency. The overall learning experience is being very well received within our business."

Sam's experience highlights how Astutis delivers collaborative, client-focused training solutions that combine safety expertise, innovative learning design, and effective project management.

The Results

By investing in the bespoke safety management programme with Astutis, Aggreko has:

• Equipped 600+ frontline managers and supervisors globally with enhanced safety leadership skills.
• Successfully delivered training in 7 languages across multiple continents.
• Strengthened the ability of managers to have confident safety conversations with their teams.
• Enabled HSE managers to take coaching and supporting roles in safety management.
• Created a business-wide approach to safety aligned with Aggreko's core values.
• Enhanced proactive identification and prevention of unsafe acts and behaviours.
• Received positive feedback across the business for the learning experience.

Aggreko's experience demonstrates how bespoke, blended learning designed around the 70/20/10 methodology and tailored to organisational values can lead to lasting improvements in safety leadership and culture.