Case Study: Using Evolve to manage the HDRC Learning and Development programme
The Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Bradford has a Learning and Development strand whose purpose is to equip colleagues from across the Council with knowledge and skills relating to research, enabling them to be more data driven and research led in their day to day projects.
Bradford Council uses the Evolve Learning Management System (LMS) to manage its training programmes. Through Evolve, staff can take part in and keep track of their learning and development.
HDRC Learning and Development lead Rahima Ali worked closely with the HR department’s Workforce Development Manager Chris Copley to develop a bespoke training offer for the HDRC in the Evolve platform. Key objectives included:
- creating new training courses
- creating virtual and blended classes
- implementing approval workflows for participants
- creating bespoke evaluation surveys and custom certificates
- adding and removing participants
- managing instructors dashboard
- creating evaluation reports
- decentralising LMS management
“Working with Rahima has had a significant impact on the day-to-day work of my own team. Rahima has picked up the admin side of Evolve very well and as mentioned above, this has reduced the amount of work that our team needs to undertake for the HDRC team.”
Chris Copley, Workforce Development Manager
Collaboration is key
Collaboration between the HDRC and the HR team was key to establishing and launching the training programme within Evolve, with HR providing support in exploring the advanced functionalities within Evolve LMS, such as workflow customisation and bespoke feature creation, to align with HDRC’s training requirements. They also provided additional support that enabled the HDRC to manage the LMS platform and assign coordinators that could work within evolve to create and manage training sessions. This approach not only decentralised system management but also strengthened the capabilities of the team, ensuring a more efficient and self-sufficient workflow.
The project had a significant impact on operations. L&D Coordinators are now empowered to manage the training processes, reducing dependence on the HR team while streamlining workflows.
Bespoke surveys and certifications ensured HDRC’s training programs were relevant and impactful. The introduction of a dedicated Teams channel improved communication and collaboration, enhancing responsiveness to practitioner needs. Furthermore, decentralising LMS functions encouraging broader access and resource-sharing. By equipping staff with the necessary skills and tools, the initiative supported professional development, workforce efficiency, and operational sustainability for HDRC and other services.
What’s next?
Additional system functionalities will be explored to address emerging training needs of HDRC such as analysis of questions and create simple visualisations, as well as web-based learning featuring embedded training videos. HDRC and HR will be working very closely to deliver a comprehensive training programme for staff so they are research ready.