Online inductions for the event industry

To diminish the possibility of events being cancelled, the health and safety of contractors, crew and event staff is crucial to the safe return of public gatherings, and it’s never too early to start preparing!

With events being cancelled due to Covid-19 safety restrictions, the event sector has been hit hard by lockdown. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OEDC) has reported that the UK’s service-based sector, including hospitality and tourism, has been particularly badly hindered. In addition, the recent changes made by the Government as to when events can start again continues to cause uncertainty. However, the leisure, sport and tourism industry are planning for the future, with pop up events emerging across the country.

Event managers are working hard and thinking outside the box creating events that offer a safe environment for both the public and their staff. One way that the event sector can streamline the staff induction process and get back on site quickly and safely, is to follow the example set by the construction industry, who were first to put digital processes in place so that they could open sites safely and get back to work at the beginning of lockdown.

Restart dates for the events industry

Proposed changes that would have allowed events to restart have been delayed, meaning larger events, such as exhibitions, conferences, trade shows and sporting events, are still waiting for the go ahead. To diminish the possibility of further shutdowns, the health and safety of contractors, crew and event staff will be crucial to the continuation of public gatherings.

Festival organisers get inventive

Pop-up festivals are becoming the ‘new normal’ and purpose-built events all over the UK are preparing for a summer of socially distanced fun. Gisburne Park in Lancashire, usually a wedding venue, reinvented itself to become one of the UK’s first socially distanced festivals with other new events being announced daily, providing much sought-after work for event industry staff.

Glamping and Staycations

Outdoor holidays are enjoying a resurgence and breathing new life in the UK tourism and leisure sector. Staycationers, encouraged to take holidays in the UK this summer, are able to enjoy live entertainment, festival-style food, open-air cinemas and glamping in unique settings. Businesses that are hiring more staff to handle an upsurge in bookings will benefit from a 24/7 flexible solution for inducting seasonal workers.

Christmas markets and more…

Christmas hasn’t been cancelled yet, with various markets planning to go ahead. For those that are given the green light, safety will be the upmost priority. In preparation, site managers are exploring options to deliver Covid-secure events in line with Government advice, and as plans develop in response to updated guidance, safely inducting staff quickly and efficiently will become a priority.

With attention now focused on socially distanced solutions, online induction specialists, GetOnSite, can help reboot the gig economy by providing a flexible resource that will allow workers to get back to work safely without time consuming manual inductions on their first day.

What is an induction?

Induction training should cover all practical information and organisational procedures, such as health and safety, site maps and the collection of emergency contact details. Staff can be made aware of procedures, accreditation requirements and safety regulations before they arrive on site. During the Covid-19 pandemic, online inductions have become an effective solution for getting people back to work quickly by allowing event organisers to induct staff, manage personal information and assess their understanding before they begin work.

5 key benefits of online staff inductions

Online inductions offer many benefits. Here are the key features that make the online induction journey an effective solution for both employers and employees during Covid-19.

Reduced risk
Event staff not only need to know how to work safely once on site, but also to feel reassured that they can complete their induction in a safe, socially distanced way. By completing an induction remotely online, risk is mitigated and staff feel reassured that their safety is a top priority. Data protection compliance with online cloud storage is met and individual records can be found quickly with the search function.

Decreased costs
For just £2.60 a day (the cost of a granola bar or mince pie!), the team at GetOnSite can build an online induction that will remove the need to manually induct every new member of staff. On arrival to the site, staff can get straight to work after checking in with their access code, freeing up the site manager to focus on the smooth running of the event.

24/7 accessibility
By storing all the information online, the need for paperwork and transporting big files to the site is eliminated. With an internet connection, the data on all the event staff can be securely accessed 24/7 from any device, and staff can be notified of important updates with the built-in text system.

Tailored for each event
Inductions are tailored to the specific event – organisers can include photographs, site maps or videos and check staff understanding with a customised questionnaire. Site managers can be assured that staff have all the information they need before the event begins.

Full control of content
Roll-out plans are scheduled to meet individual event deadlines, removing any eleventh-hour headaches on the day. With training and support available when needed, staff inductions can be planned and managed to avoid any last-minute hitches.

As you can see, choosing to induct online lets you train staff, contractors and site visitors in a simple, cost-effective way. Email us to receive a copy of our Go-To-Guide on how to safely induct event staff during Covid-19, or call us on 01285 770011 to speak to one of our friendly team about booking a demo so you can be prepared to run your socially distanced event safely.