Client stories

Providing high-quality L&D content for all at the RSPCA

We caught up with the charity’s L&D manager Kerry Gabriel O’Sullivan to explore how the RSPCA has been using Mindtools Kineo.

Case Study

The challenge

During a 2019 restructure, the RSPCA’s L&D team set out to improve learning for leaders and managers, but quickly realised they needed something more.

With a workforce of nearly 2,000 and an LMS offering limited, one-format content, they looked for a more flexible solution. Their goal was a blended, accessible learning experience that worked for everyone, from field-based Inspectors and Animal Rescue Officers to office staff, and could be used anytime, anywhere.

To meet their learners needs, the RSPCA needed to:

Adopt a learning platform that was user-friendly both in terms of content and interface
Settle on a learning solution accessible across all devices—especially important for their frontline staff, who move around a lot
Find learning content that came in a variety of engaging formats, catering to both leadership and softer skills.

The solution

Mindtools experts gave multiple demos of our offering to RSPCA staff, joined some of the charity’s webinars, so employees could have honest conversations about the future of their learning and development.

The same day the RSPCA re-launched its LMS, it also launched its Mindtools offering, complete with an exciting campaign to boost engagement from the get-go. This was instrumental in promoting the L&D team’s profile across the company, and demonstrating they were there to support staff no matter what their needs.

The results

Around the time of adopting Mindtools, the RSPCA had also brought in a brand-new performance contribution system and process, which involved running manager and employee training webinars. With Mindtools, the RSPCA was able to collate specific resources for the training, and signpost people to playlists about performance management.

The RSPCA’s L&D team have regular catch-ups with the experts over at Mindtools to discuss what’s coming up. Together they peruse the engagement planner due to be sent out in the weekly Mindtools email, then look ahead to adjust the content in light of the charity’s current context.

Mindtools proved an instant hit at the RSPCA, especially since the charity had been driving focus on developing managers at all levels. According to Kerry, within weeks the new learning offering throughout the charity had ignited positive change in terms of strategy, motivation, communication, engagement, and trust.

“We had a few learning options available to us, but Mindtools always stood out for me because I’d previously experienced its high-quality content. What’s more, it wasn’t corporate, and that was perfect for the RSPCA. We’re all about getting our hands dirty and rescuing animals, so we wanted our learning solution to be similarly down-to-earth.”

Kerry Gabriel O’Sullivan Learning and Development Manager, RSPCA
“We wanted everyone in the organization to be able to take advantage of whatever solution we settled on. It had to be modern—and it had to be bitesize! Finally, of course, our learning solution had to be affordable—we are a charity, after all.” “We had a few learning options available to us, but Mindtools always stood out for me because I’d previously experienced its high-quality content. What’s more, it wasn’t corporate, and that was perfect for the RSPCA. We’re all about getting our hands dirty and rescuing animals, so we wanted our learning solution to be similarly down-to-earth.”

Kerry Gabriel O’Sullivan
“There’s an impressive amount of content that’s current and relevant. It gives people what they need at the time of need. There’s so much to discover, and there truly is something for everyone, no matter your role or level. To top it off, the interface is intuitive and nice to look at—and the fact you can brand it for your organisation is perfect for making it feel like your own!”

Kerry Gabriel O’Sullivan
“We wanted everyone in the organization to be able to take advantage of whatever solution we settled on. It had to be modern—and it had to be bitesize! Finally, of course, our learning solution had to be affordable—we are a charity, after all.”

Kerry Gabriel O’Sullivan Learning and Development Manager, RSPCA

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