Driving near-universal compliance: how Reece achieved 97% completion and a Diamond Award win
Reece, Australia’s largest supplier of plumbing and bathroom supplies, partnered with Mindtools Kineo, to achieve a 97% completion rate in compliance training – earning a Diamond Award at the LearnX 2025 Awards.
The challenge
Reece identified a growing gap between its compliance obligations and the way training was delivered. Historically, compliance was addressed through ad hoc e-learning modules released as needed. While this met minimum requirements, it lacked consistency, visibility and the rigour required to manage an evolving risk profile.
A comprehensive review revealed three critical needs:
- A structured, repeatable framework to ensure annual completion of mandatory training, underpinned by robust reporting that would provide leadership with confidence in compliance performance.
- Training that balances rigour with Reece’s people-first culture. Compliance could not become a transactional, box-ticking exercise. Instead, it needed to foster understanding, shared accountability, and engagement – delivering ‘confidence through compliance’ in a way that felt fair and accessible.
- A flexible, scalable technology solution. With a diverse workforce and varying compliance needs across roles, the system had to segment audiences, automate recurring training cycles, and integrate seamlessly into day-to-day operations.
Stakeholders across the business expected a solution that would mitigate risk, generate reliable data, and embed compliance into everyday behaviours.
The solution
Partnering with Mindtools Kineo, Reece implemented a comprehensive compliance framework built on Totara LMS.
This solution introduced structured certification cycles, ensuring that compliance training was not a one-off activity but an ongoing, automated process. Using advanced audience management, training was tailored to specific roles, functions and geographies – ensuring relevance while maintaining organizational consistency.
Two key innovations elevated the solution beyond standard LMS functionality:
- Digest notifications: Rather than overwhelming users with multiple alerts, Mindtools Kineo designed a weekly summary email that provided managers with a clear, consolidated view of their team’s compliance status. This reduced noise while maintaining visibility and accountability.
- Power BI integration: Compliance data from the LMS was seamlessly integrated into Reece’s wider reporting ecosystem, embedding learning metrics alongside core business indicators. This enabled leaders to access real-time insights and strengthened governance.
The design was underpinned by behavioural science principles, ensuring the system encouraged action without creating friction. Automated rules prevented unnecessary assignments (such as excluding employees on extended leave), while onboarding schedules avoided overloading new starters.
As Lloyd Wilson, People Platforms and Analytics at Reece says:
‘Crucially, the solution was implemented as part of the flow of work. Navigation was simplified, access to training streamlined, and communication carefully designed to support engagement rather than enforcement.’
The results
The impact was immediate and sustained. Compliance completion rates increased from approximately 80% to 97% across critical training areas, with significantly reduced need for manual intervention.
As Lloyd Wilson, People Platforms and Analytics at Reece says:
‘Beyond the numbers, the organization achieved a fundamental cultural shift. Compliance is now understood as a shared responsibility, supported by clear expectations and transparent reporting. Managers have real-time visibility of team progress, while employees benefit from a simpler, more intuitive experience.’
Key outcomes include:
- Near-universal compliance: Establishing a new organizational benchmark for accountability and performance
- Reduced administrative burden: Automation eliminated the need for manual follow-ups, freeing HR and L&D teams to focus on strategic priorities
- Enhanced leadership confidence: Integrated dashboards provide reliable, real-time insights into compliance status
- Improved employee experience: Streamlined access, reduced email noise and relevant training pathways increased engagement.
By combining scalable technology with thoughtful, people-first design, Reece created a compliance ecosystem that aligns with its culture while meeting regulatory demands.
This award-winning programme demonstrates how organizations can move beyond fragmented, inconsistent compliance approaches to build a system that is comprehensive, scalable and credible – delivering measurable impact today while enabling the workforce for the challenges of tomorrow.
