Hurrah!

by Alan Nelson

This is the day of the year when we have in the past gone a bit quiet. Last night was the annual E-Learning Awards Ceremony and this is the morning after. We are proud of our record of being recognised in these awards. However, the cynical among you may have observed that we make a lot of noise about being shortlisted, but then go a bit quiet after the winners are announced. Why could this be?
 
So last night we got dressed up in our DJs and posh frocks and hopped on the tube over to Green Park. There we met up with Paul Marvell and Amanda Shepard of the Institute of Fundraising. The course we created with them, All About Fundraising, had been shortlisted in the category “Best online or distance learning project”.
 
A champagne reception was followed by a three course meal – food pretty good considering they were catering for 450 people – and then we were on to the announcement of the winners.
 
Despite the fact that it is a real honour to be shortlisted and winning in any of the categories is extremely unlikely, as the winners are announced and your category approaches, you cannot help but get a little bit hopeful. Jacqui Nelson and Paul Marvell had come back from the presentation they made to the judges saying that it had gone well. Not only that, but as a company we had also been shortlisted for “Elearning Development Company of the Year”, so we had two chances of winning.
 
The first of our categories to come up was the Best Online or Distance Learning Project.
 
And the winner is…….
 
Damn and blast! Sorry I mean of course, “Congratulations to Department of Health e-Learning for Healthcare.”
 
I really thought we had a good chance. At least I could relax now. Silly to get excited - I always tell myself not to. Then the names went up for the E-Learning Development Company of the Year. There are so many on the shortlist that they have to run it onto a second powerpoint screen. “Not a good sign.” I think.
 
“And the winner of the Silver Award for E-Learning Development Company of the Year is….. Nelson Croom!”
 
Cue everyone going potty! (Everyone on our table that is.) Up we go to accept the award and then back with grins on our faces. Happy now. More champagne and we hit the disco until the early hours. A great night!

Now in the sober light of the next day it still feels pretty good. What is particularly satisfying is the explanation the judges gave about why the chose us. I won’t repeat it here – you can read it in our press release. They describe the two reasons they gave us the award: the remarkable levels of customer satisfaction; and the emphasis we place on facilitating people’s learning rather than trying to teach them remotely. This is great because it means we have been given an award because they have recognised the very things we are most proud of.

I don’t think they are separate things either. I think the reason why we have such high customer satisfaction levels is in no small part due to the fact that we focus on pleasing the end user and not just on making sure the person who is paying us is kept sweet. In the long term that is the only way to maintain the relationship.

One final note of caution. I have worked in organisations before that have received awards, and I know from experience what a fine line there is between being proud of what you are good at, and being complacent. I know that it is important that we continue to work towards improving in every way we can, so we won’t be sitting our laurels.

Well done to the team here and thank you to all the customers and partners who make it possible by choosing to work with us. I promise we won’t become complacent but allow us just a day of being a bit smug!

Comments

[Suzanne Kavanagh]

Congratulations! What fantastic news for the team and long overdue recognition of how you bring an incredibly diverse range of learning to life.