Kier is one of the UK's leading infrastructure businesses. Their operatives already knew how to use cable avoidance equipment. What they needed was something different: a refresher programme that went beyond generic training and addressed Kier's own systems, policies, and lessons learned from real incidents on their sites.
The Brief from Kier Group
Kier approached Sygma with a specific challenge. Their operatives held valid cable avoidance qualifications, but the standard refresher courses available in the market were too generic. Kier wanted a programme that would reinforce the fundamentals while embedding their own company-specific processes into the training. This included their permit to dig system, internal policies on utility avoidance, lessons learned from actual utility strikes on Kier projects, and data from their CAT Manager system.
The goal was not to replace the foundation qualification but to build a refresher layer on top of it that would be immediately recognisable and relevant to Kier operatives. Every scenario, every example, and every process reference needed to come from Kier's own world.
What Sygma Designed
Sygma designed a 1-day bespoke refresher programme structured around six modules, each tied directly to Kier's operational requirements. The morning session covers classroom-based content, and the afternoon moves into practical peer assessment.
| Module | Focus |
|---|---|
| Kier Permit to Dig System | How to correctly complete and apply the Kier permit process before breaking ground |
| Kier Company Policies | Internal policies governing utility avoidance on Kier projects |
| Lessons Learned from Kier Incidents | Real strike incidents from Kier sites, analysed for root cause and prevention |
| CAT Manager Data Analysis | Using CAT Manager as a live management tool, not just a logging device |
| USAG Form Completion | Correct completion of the Underground Services Avoidance Group form |
| Practical Peer Assessment | Hands-on assessment where operatives evaluate each other's technique |
The prerequisite for this refresher is a completed 2-day foundation cable avoidance course. This ensures that every delegate attending the Kier-specific day already has the technical baseline, allowing the refresher to focus entirely on application within Kier's framework.
How It Works in Practice
The programme can be delivered at Kier facilities, on Kier project sites, or at Sygma's training centre in Wigan. Delegate feedback is captured via QR-code surveys at the end of each session, providing Kier with immediate, measurable data on training effectiveness and areas for further development.
Key Outcomes
| Outcome | Detail |
|---|---|
| Kier Permit Applied Correctly | Operatives can correctly complete and apply Kier's permit to dig process |
| Real Incidents Drive Behaviour Change | Lessons from actual Kier strikes create more impact than hypothetical examples |
| CAT Manager as a Live Tool | Operatives understand CAT Manager as a management and compliance tool, not just a data logger |
| USAG Embedded | Correct USAG form completion is practised and assessed during the session |
| Peer Coaching Multiplier | Operatives learn to assess and coach each other, extending the training effect beyond the classroom |
| Honest Feedback Loop | QR-code feedback gives Kier immediate, unfiltered data on training effectiveness |
Want a Programme Built Around Your Organisation?
If your team needs training that reflects your own systems, policies, and risk profile, Sygma can design a bespoke programme. We work with your data, your processes, and your people.
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