Global Processing Systems
Summary
Global Processing Systems delivers industry-leading solutions to the payment and fintech sectors through its award-winning platform, team of performance experts and trusted partner status. GPS works with more than 40 issuing banks globally, operating programmes for 100+ clients in 60 countries using more than 150 currencies.
Background
GPS has achieved exponential growth after significant private equity investments in 2018 and 2020. To ensure that a formal training programme supported this growth, the GPS board announced the appointment of David Strydom as Learning and Development Manager in 2019. David’s role is to manage training and development of some 250 staff and contractors working in GPS’ offices in the UK, Singapore, Sydney and Dubai, and in future locations worldwide.
The objectives
David has 20 years’ experience in learning and development, and places great importance on face-to-face training and mentoring. He also understands the need for a centralised learning platform that puts out consistent training across the organisation, especially with its rapid growth and international expansion which have accelerated its need for a more blended learning process.
“I`ve worked with several platforms over the years and am very aware of the challenges and the shortfalls and also the positives of a lot of systems,” says David.
He considers there to be two main types of LMS: vehicles with limited functionality created simply to sell existing content and big corporate platforms that offer little flexibility to suit individual organisations.
“One of the things that really struck me with My Learning Hub was the flexibility and their willingness to tailor-make the system to match your requirements. And the fact that it was put together to be an efficient learner management system as opposed to delivery tool for material, which meant that you had things like the communication tools. Through the social media talk interface between your staff members, you have the ability to put out surveys, and 360 degrees surveys. And also, you’ve got the ability for line managers to start putting personal development plans together for the staff. And they’ve introduced the authoring tool, which means that I have greater freedom to put simple ad hoc training together myself, as opposed to either hiring a developer or outsourcing it to a third party.”
The challenges
Introducing a new LMS system carries risk at any time and GPS implemented My Learning Hub just before Coronavirus lockdowns were introduced, which added further complication.
“It went extremely well. I have to say that it was one of the most painless implementation processes I’ve ever been through. Our account manager and support team were tremendous, the white labelling of our system went very well, and the importation of our existing data was very, very simple.”
Another risk is that employees might reject a system, for a variety of reasons, and David says that while there are some who simply wait until required to undertake regulatory training, others are keen to self-develop and request more courses, and that overall feedback is very good.
The Results
Marshall Motor Holdings is the 7th largest motor dealer group in the UK with 164 franchised dealerships representing 27 brand partners across 37 counties.
Coillte is a commercial forestry business in Ireland, owned by the state, and based in Newtownmountkennedy. Coillte manage approximately 7% of the country’s land, and operates three businesses - their core forestry business, a land solutions business, and a wood panel manufacturing business called `Medite Smartply`.
Chess is one of the UK’s leading independent and trusted technology service providers, employing 300 skilled people across the UK, supporting over 20,000 organisations. By leveraging world-class technology, Chess helps you to connect your people, protect your data, grow your business, reduce your costs and work better together, which means your business, your people and your customers can thrive.
