The Metropolitan Police faced a significant challenge with their outdated IT platforms hindering efficient information sharing and management. To address this, they initiated the CONNECT project, aiming to migrate to a single, comprehensive platform. This transformation was not just about IT refreshment but aimed to revolutionise data management and usage within the organisation.

CONNECT is the largest IT transformation project ever undertaken in the Met. It is not simply an IT refreshment: it will transform how the Met records and uses data, and ultimately improve how the Met, police London for years to come.

Once the system was designed and built, there was a huge requirement to manage and report on the training process of circa 40,000 staff to ensure they all were fully competent in using the new system. The training facilitators would need to be current or previous serving Police staff who have knowledge of the previous system and the new platform to ensure smooth learning for the 40,000 staff.

The Mets main concern was how to commit to the huge numbers of facilitators required for the roll out of training, which was required being extremely difficult to manage anyway let alone with any in role officers also having daily operational duties.

So, the challenge was set. The Met came to Premier Partnership for our help and expertise in providing facilitators who met the criteria set out for the requirement.

The facilitators Premier would source, supply, and manage the CONNECT program and would then be responsible for supporting the delivery of CONNECT Training.

They would provide policing expertise and context in the topics of Intelligence and Investigation when training is delivered to Superusers and end users. Facilitators will also provide classroom management support alongside external trainers and Classroom training would run over a 13-week window this role being key to support fellow Officers and Staff to complete their training and help prepare them for Go Live with the platform.

Solution Provided:
Premier Partnership stepped in to provide the Metropolitan Police with facilitators meeting the specific criteria required for the CONNECT training.

However, the challenge was finding enough qualified facilitators who:

• Had recent Met Police experience (within 18 months)
• Understood relevant policing procedures (intelligence, investigation, etc.)
• Possessed MPS security clearance
• Had presentation and communication skills
• Were comfortable with IT systems and learning new software
• Lived within the M25 radius of London
• Could work flexible hours (potentially 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM – 7 days a week)

Premier Partnership addressed the challenge by:

• Leveraging their network of suppliers and associates to find qualified facilitators.
• Implementing a targeted recruitment campaign using local media and social media platforms.

Once selected, the facilitators were tasked with delivering training on intelligence, investigations, and other key areas, thereby ensuring a smooth transition to the new platform.

Implementation Process

Premier Partnership meticulously managed the facilitators, ensuring compliance with client requirements, coordinating schedules, and providing necessary support throughout the training period. They maintained a robust attendance register, managed payments, and addressed any concerns promptly, ensuring seamless execution of the training programme.

This was achieved by Premier Partnership providing potential facilitators from numerous suppliers who fell into the correct criteria and the Met carried out their due diligence before confirming their acceptance of everyone. On completion of this Premier arranged and confirmed start dates with the facilitators.

We then project managed everyone, provided each individual and their company with a comprehensive breakdown of requirements, scope of work, client expectations and day-to-day contact details.

Premier Partnership kept a daily register of attendance over the duration of the project, ensuring that correct payments were made, and any sickness/holiday time was recorded.

Premier had a person onsite to welcome the facilitators and be there for any queries/concerns raised.

Results and Outcomes:

Through close collaboration with Premier Partnership, the Metropolitan Police successfully trained over 34,000 personnel, incorporating both classroom and digital training methods. Feedback from participants indicated high levels of confidence in using the new platform, highlighting the effectiveness of the training delivered. Premier Partnership’s contribution played a crucial role in achieving this milestone, ensuring budget adherence and efficient management of resources.

Client Testimonial

Laura Koster, CONNECT – Comms, Training & Self-Help Delivery Manager, Metropolitan Police Service expressed gratitude for Premier Partnership’s invaluable support throughout the project, acknowledging their role in delivering an improved training experience and praised their positivity and adaptability in overcoming challenges.

‘’With the CONNECT Training window now officially closed I wanted to thank you for all your hard work and contribution in supporting the Met to prepare for the largest digital transformation that UK policing has ever implemented.

Premier Partnership has played a part in getting us to the Go Live point, helping source and manage circa 60 facilitators.

Premier Partnership has supported us in our ambition to deliver an improved training experience including the pivot to classroom training for 22,500 people.

This has resulted in us collectively training c.34,000 people (classroom and digital) and delivering c.900 virtual upskilling sessions (including the digital webinars) during the 12-week training window. 

Feedback from those who received classroom training has been consistently high with officers and staff reporting that the training has made them more confident in using CONNECT (86%) and that the content was relevant (87%) and delivered in a clear and engaging manner (95%).

Thank you again for being part of this incredible journey and your continued positivity when faced with numerous challenges (delays, re-planning and change in approach). 

It’s been a pleasure working with you all and I wish you well for the future.’’

The project highlighted the importance of robust recruitment processes, effective communication, and proactive management in large-scale training initiatives. These lessons can be applied to future projects to ensure smoother execution and better outcomes.

The successful implementation of the CONNECT project marked a significant milestone for the Metropolitan Police, ushering in a new era of enhanced data management and operational efficiency. Premier Partnership’s contributions were instrumental in achieving this success, demonstrating the value of strategic collaboration and expertise in addressing complex organisational challenges.