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The Emblem Editorial


AI for small businesses: start with understanding
You don't have to like AI. You don't even have to want to use it. But before you dismiss it, you owe it to yourself and your business to at least learn what it is and how you could use it. Because right now, conversations around AI are polarised: people are either terrified of it, or they're talking about it like it's a magic solution. For SMEs, neither of those extremes are particularly helpful. What we're seeing Over the last few months, I’ve been in rooms full of business

Emma Gillam
Nov 243 min read


What’s the worst training you’ve ever been on?
The answer will be different for everyone, but most of us have at least one experience that stands out for all the wrong reasons. Maybe you didn’t learn anything. Maybe you felt like your time was wasted. Maybe you walked away more frustrated than informed. Think about it. Did it look anything like this? It was boring Someone talked at you for an hour straight The slides were text-heavy and served no purpose There were no activities or engagement The content wasn’t relevant t

Emma Gillam
Nov 183 min read


Going beyond the legal minimum
Most businesses believe their onboarding is “sorted” because the legal essentials are covered. The health and safety briefing is done, the fire exits are pointed out, GDPR is mentioned, and the handbook is emailed (or handed over in a plastic wallet that will never be opened again). Technically, that means the induction has done its job. But legal compliance is not the same as effective onboarding . Someone might know the procedures and policies, but that does not mean they u

Emma Gillam
Nov 104 min read


Stop outsourcing your training every year
Build it. Own it. Use it There's a common pattern we see with businesses of all sizes - even those in the training industry. They invest in an LMS (learner management system)....then they upload a library of generic courses. Staff engagement (and enthusiasm for them) is low and training gets forgotten until renewal time. The issues usually isn't the LMS - its the content sitting inside of it. If digital staff training doesn't feel relevant to someone's day-to-day reality, pe

Emma Gillam
Nov 23 min read


What would you do? The power of real-world scenarios in training
Recently, I met with a business owner who put this perfectly. She was talking about confidentiality. In her workspace, confidentiality is second nature. Everyone knows the boundaries and understands how to behave. But what happens when a staff member sees a client outside of work? On the street. In a cafe. At the supermarket. It feels obvious how to respond when you've been in the industry for years. It is NOT obvious when it's your first job. And that's why scenario based le

Emma Gillam
Oct 274 min read


What is eLearning? A simple guide for modern businesses
I've spent a lot of time over the last two months attending networking events, both online and face-to-face, pitching our company and meeting new clients. Have you ever tried to explain what you do for a living and been met with a polite smile and confused nod? I have.... Even after more than a decade of working in training development and learning design, I still meet people who ask: "What do you mean by eLearning?" Depending on where you've worked, you might have heard it c

Emma Gillam
Oct 203 min read


The future of learning and development in small and medium sized businesses
I’ll admit it – I’m a little jealous of small businesses. After 16+ years in learning and development, from personal training to...

Laura Gillam
Oct 124 min read


From bad acting to AI Avatars: the evolution of video in learning
Chances are, if you've worked in any corporate business, at some point in your career you've watched an annual training video that didn't...

Emma Gillam
Oct 43 min read


Digital or face-to-face training? This might surprise you...
This might sound strange (especially coming from the founder of a digital learning company!) but I don't believe digital training should...

Emma Gillam
Sep 283 min read


Why branding matters for your team & your customers
I spend a lot of time thinking about branding, and so should you. It's about more than just a nice logo and choice of font. I’ve always...

Emma Gillam
Sep 213 min read


Why great onboarding builds great teams!
How poor induction impacts staff retention Starting a new job should be exciting - an obvious statement, I'm sure! It should be a fresh...

Emma Gillam
Sep 82 min read
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