{"id":52271,"date":"2024-05-14T13:50:08","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T13:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/?post_type=customer-story&#038;p=52271"},"modified":"2026-03-02T12:41:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T12:41:28","slug":"gca-expands-training-by-500-whilst-dramatically-cutting-member-training-costs","status":"publish","type":"customer-story","link":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/us\/customer-stories\/gca-expands-training-by-500-whilst-dramatically-cutting-member-training-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"GCA expands training by 500% whilst dramatically cutting member training costs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class='inline-text-container MobileAlignment DesktopAlignment'>\n  <div class='richText'><p class=\"large \"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/articles\/announcing-the-winners-of-the-totara-awards-2024\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-51877 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Badge_2024_highly-commended-project.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Badge_2024_highly-commended-project.png 404w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Badge_2024_highly-commended-project-263x300.png 263w\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"228\" \/><\/a><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;The Garden Centre Association (GCA) was established in 1966 to act as a forum and catalyst for communication between its members from the garden retail and supplier communities. Today, there are over 205 full (garden centre) members and 152 associate (supplier) members, who all benefit from exchanging ideas and sharing experiences with like-minded individuals. The GCA\u2019s mission is to connect the best garden centres in the UK, to inspire and support them to grow and adapt.&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">The Garden Centre Association (GCA) was established in 1966 to act as a forum and catalyst for communication between its members from the garden retail and supplier communities. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"large \"><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;The Garden Centre Association (GCA) was established in 1966 to act as a forum and catalyst for communication between its members from the garden retail and supplier communities. Today, there are over 205 full (garden centre) members and 152 associate (supplier) members, who all benefit from exchanging ideas and sharing experiences with like-minded individuals. The GCA\u2019s mission is to connect the best garden centres in the UK, to inspire and support them to grow and adapt.&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">Today, there are over 205 full (garden centre) members and 152 associate (supplier) members, who all benefit from exchanging ideas and sharing experiences with like-minded individuals. The GCA\u2019s mission is to connect the best garden centres in the UK, to inspire and support them to grow and adapt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Garden Centre Association&#039;s Training Expansion Story\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/I6GaHlUi9b4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>The challenge<\/h3>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Due to the seasonality of the industry, many of GCA\u2019s full members recruit temporary staff, including those where English isn\u2019t their first language, to help out during the busier times of the year. However, as these seasonal staff are only employed for a short period of time, more often than not they will have little or no knowledge and experience and therefore lack even basic training on the plants and products their garden centre sells.\\n\\nDue to the costs of training (which are often higher in this industry as horticulture training is more specialised), a lot of smaller garden centre members weren\u2019t able to provide their employees with adequate training and as a result, the GCA proposed to create a centralised training portal that can be customised to accommodate various languages and accessed by all members\u2019 employees to provide them with consistent and easily accessible training.\\n&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">Due to the seasonality of the industry, many of GCA\u2019s full members recruit temporary staff, including those where English isn\u2019t their first language, to help out during the busier times of the year. However, as these seasonal staff are only employed for a short period of time, more often than not they will have little or no knowledge and experience and therefore lack even basic training on the plants and products their garden centre sells.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Due to the costs of training (which are often higher in this industry as horticulture training is more specialised), a lot of smaller garden centre members weren\u2019t able to provide their employees with adequate training and as a result, the GCA proposed to create a centralised training portal that can be customised to accommodate various languages and accessed by all members\u2019 employees to provide them with consistent and easily accessible training.<\/p>\n<h3>The solution<\/h3>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-52115\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-3-Darren-Bindert-1024x468.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-3-Darren-Bindert-1024x468.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-3-Darren-Bindert-300x137.jpg 300w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-3-Darren-Bindert-768x351.jpg 768w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-3-Darren-Bindert-1536x701.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-3-Darren-Bindert.jpg 1879w\" alt=\"\" width=\"752\" height=\"344\" \/><\/h3>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Totara Learn provides the perfect solution for the challenges GCA faced, especially as each of member required their own training space within the site, which is provided by Totara\u2019s multi-tenancy feature. The GCA and our members benefit from:\\n\u2022\\tA secure and robust platform\\n\u2022\\tEase of use for learners and administrators\\n\u2022\\tThe ability to change the default language at user level, ensuring that the system is available to all users, regardless of their native language \\n\u2022\\tReporting capabilities that enable admins to measure learner activity and progress\\n\u2022\\tImproved user experience to bring people back to the learning programme time and again\\n\u2022\\tA scalable LMS that delivers centralised, standardised, reliable, and consistent training to learners across the membership group\\n\\nAs well as horticulture and customer service, health &amp; safety and food safety training is also essential for GCA members, as is the ability to retake them periodically. The certification programs which make it easy and hassle-free for them to ensure that their staff stay up to date with their compliance training.\\n\\nMany members also use programs to create bespoke training plans for their new employees, dependent on what area of the business they will be working in. This has proved to have been an important feature as it provides the employee with a clearly defined set of courses that they must complete and enables the business to monitor their progress and development.\\n&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">Totara Learn provides the perfect solution for the challenges GCA faced, especially as each of member required their own training space within the site, which is provided by Totara\u2019s multi-tenancy feature. The GCA and our members benefit from:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Totara Learn provides the perfect solution for the challenges GCA faced, especially as each of member required their own training space within the site, which is provided by Totara\u2019s multi-tenancy feature. The GCA and our members benefit from:\\n\u2022\\tA secure and robust platform\\n\u2022\\tEase of use for learners and administrators\\n\u2022\\tThe ability to change the default language at user level, ensuring that the system is available to all users, regardless of their native language \\n\u2022\\tReporting capabilities that enable admins to measure learner activity and progress\\n\u2022\\tImproved user experience to bring people back to the learning programme time and again\\n\u2022\\tA scalable LMS that delivers centralised, standardised, reliable, and consistent training to learners across the membership group\\n\\nAs well as horticulture and customer service, health &amp; safety and food safety training is also essential for GCA members, as is the ability to retake them periodically. The certification programs which make it easy and hassle-free for them to ensure that their staff stay up to date with their compliance training.\\n\\nMany members also use programs to create bespoke training plans for their new employees, dependent on what area of the business they will be working in. This has proved to have been an important feature as it provides the employee with a clearly defined set of courses that they must complete and enables the business to monitor their progress and development.\\n&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">A secure and robust platform<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Totara Learn provides the perfect solution for the challenges GCA faced, especially as each of member required their own training space within the site, which is provided by Totara\u2019s multi-tenancy feature. The GCA and our members benefit from:\\n\u2022\\tA secure and robust platform\\n\u2022\\tEase of use for learners and administrators\\n\u2022\\tThe ability to change the default language at user level, ensuring that the system is available to all users, regardless of their native language \\n\u2022\\tReporting capabilities that enable admins to measure learner activity and progress\\n\u2022\\tImproved user experience to bring people back to the learning programme time and again\\n\u2022\\tA scalable LMS that delivers centralised, standardised, reliable, and consistent training to learners across the membership group\\n\\nAs well as horticulture and customer service, health &amp; safety and food safety training is also essential for GCA members, as is the ability to retake them periodically. The certification programs which make it easy and hassle-free for them to ensure that their staff stay up to date with their compliance training.\\n\\nMany members also use programs to create bespoke training plans for their new employees, dependent on what area of the business they will be working in. This has proved to have been an important feature as it provides the employee with a clearly defined set of courses that they must complete and enables the business to monitor their progress and development.\\n&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">Ease of use for learners and administrators<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Totara Learn provides the perfect solution for the challenges GCA faced, especially as each of member required their own training space within the site, which is provided by Totara\u2019s multi-tenancy feature. The GCA and our members benefit from:\\n\u2022\\tA secure and robust platform\\n\u2022\\tEase of use for learners and administrators\\n\u2022\\tThe ability to change the default language at user level, ensuring that the system is available to all users, regardless of their native language \\n\u2022\\tReporting capabilities that enable admins to measure learner activity and progress\\n\u2022\\tImproved user experience to bring people back to the learning programme time and again\\n\u2022\\tA scalable LMS that delivers centralised, standardised, reliable, and consistent training to learners across the membership group\\n\\nAs well as horticulture and customer service, health &amp; safety and food safety training is also essential for GCA members, as is the ability to retake them periodically. The certification programs which make it easy and hassle-free for them to ensure that their staff stay up to date with their compliance training.\\n\\nMany members also use programs to create bespoke training plans for their new employees, dependent on what area of the business they will be working in. This has proved to have been an important feature as it provides the employee with a clearly defined set of courses that they must complete and enables the business to monitor their progress and development.\\n&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">The ability to change the default language at user level, ensuring that the system is available to all users, regardless of their native language<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Totara Learn provides the perfect solution for the challenges GCA faced, especially as each of member required their own training space within the site, which is provided by Totara\u2019s multi-tenancy feature. The GCA and our members benefit from:\\n\u2022\\tA secure and robust platform\\n\u2022\\tEase of use for learners and administrators\\n\u2022\\tThe ability to change the default language at user level, ensuring that the system is available to all users, regardless of their native language \\n\u2022\\tReporting capabilities that enable admins to measure learner activity and progress\\n\u2022\\tImproved user experience to bring people back to the learning programme time and again\\n\u2022\\tA scalable LMS that delivers centralised, standardised, reliable, and consistent training to learners across the membership group\\n\\nAs well as horticulture and customer service, health &amp; safety and food safety training is also essential for GCA members, as is the ability to retake them periodically. The certification programs which make it easy and hassle-free for them to ensure that their staff stay up to date with their compliance training.\\n\\nMany members also use programs to create bespoke training plans for their new employees, dependent on what area of the business they will be working in. This has proved to have been an important feature as it provides the employee with a clearly defined set of courses that they must complete and enables the business to monitor their progress and development.\\n&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">Reporting capabilities that enable admins to measure learner activity and progress<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Totara Learn provides the perfect solution for the challenges GCA faced, especially as each of member required their own training space within the site, which is provided by Totara\u2019s multi-tenancy feature. The GCA and our members benefit from:\\n\u2022\\tA secure and robust platform\\n\u2022\\tEase of use for learners and administrators\\n\u2022\\tThe ability to change the default language at user level, ensuring that the system is available to all users, regardless of their native language \\n\u2022\\tReporting capabilities that enable admins to measure learner activity and progress\\n\u2022\\tImproved user experience to bring people back to the learning programme time and again\\n\u2022\\tA scalable LMS that delivers centralised, standardised, reliable, and consistent training to learners across the membership group\\n\\nAs well as horticulture and customer service, health &amp; safety and food safety training is also essential for GCA members, as is the ability to retake them periodically. The certification programs which make it easy and hassle-free for them to ensure that their staff stay up to date with their compliance training.\\n\\nMany members also use programs to create bespoke training plans for their new employees, dependent on what area of the business they will be working in. This has proved to have been an important feature as it provides the employee with a clearly defined set of courses that they must complete and enables the business to monitor their progress and development.\\n&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">Improved user experience to bring people back to the learning programme time and again<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Totara Learn provides the perfect solution for the challenges GCA faced, especially as each of member required their own training space within the site, which is provided by Totara\u2019s multi-tenancy feature. The GCA and our members benefit from:\\n\u2022\\tA secure and robust platform\\n\u2022\\tEase of use for learners and administrators\\n\u2022\\tThe ability to change the default language at user level, ensuring that the system is available to all users, regardless of their native language \\n\u2022\\tReporting capabilities that enable admins to measure learner activity and progress\\n\u2022\\tImproved user experience to bring people back to the learning programme time and again\\n\u2022\\tA scalable LMS that delivers centralised, standardised, reliable, and consistent training to learners across the membership group\\n\\nAs well as horticulture and customer service, health &amp; safety and food safety training is also essential for GCA members, as is the ability to retake them periodically. The certification programs which make it easy and hassle-free for them to ensure that their staff stay up to date with their compliance training.\\n\\nMany members also use programs to create bespoke training plans for their new employees, dependent on what area of the business they will be working in. This has proved to have been an important feature as it provides the employee with a clearly defined set of courses that they must complete and enables the business to monitor their progress and development.\\n&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">A scalable LMS that delivers centralised, standardised, reliable, and consistent training to learners across the membership group<\/span><\/p>\n<p>As well as horticulture and customer service, health &amp; safety and food safety training is also essential for GCA members, as is the ability to retake them periodically. The certification programs which make it easy and hassle-free for them to ensure that their staff stay up to date with their compliance training.<\/p>\n<p>Many members also use programs to create bespoke training plans for their new employees, dependent on what area of the business they will be working in. This has proved to have been an important feature as it provides the employee with a clearly defined set of courses that they must complete and enables the business to monitor their progress and development.<\/p>\n<h3>The result<\/h3>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Even before the system was launched, 10 members, representing 25 garden centres, agreed to join GROW based on the concept alone, reaffirming the need and desire to change the way that they trained their employees. GROW has increased membership numbers by 500% and now has 119 garden centres from 48 members and over 11,000 UK-based garden centre employees benefitting from Hubken\u2019s Totara Learn online training platform. \\n\\nThrough their system, the GCA is able to use the extensive knowledge of subject matter experts from within their membership to create bespoke content and produce courses that are specific to the various issues their industry and clients are facing. Using its member\u2019s expert knowledge, even the most complex of subjects can be brought to life with stimulating and engaging content that learners not only respond to, but most importantly, remember.\\n\\nAs their Totara site ensures that all the training is centralised, standardised and consistent, it allows easy and full access to an entire suite of courses that are easy for learners to digest. Moreover, the fact that the system is always available and accessible by any device, means the GCA\u2019s member\u2019s employees are able to learn at their own pace and at a time that is convenient for them. This has helped ensure that high numbers of garden centre staff are being trained in compulsory modules. This compulsory training is also being completed much more quickly as the online learning process means staff no longer have to wait for trainer-led courses to begin. \\n\\nGROW is provided as a subscription to GCA members, meaning training costs are much more stable and represent outstanding value for money. Members have seen dramatic savings as they\u2019ve moved away from traditional face-to-face training. Some have seen a 90% drop in the cost of training since the introduction of GROW, along with experiencing a significantly reduced operational impact on the business as staff no longer spend so much time away from their usual duties. \\n\\nTotara\u2019s powerful reporting functions allow individual garden centres to easily monitor training records and automate refresher training before it\u2019s due. GCA members report that it is not uncommon to have 100% employee participation in online training. \\nMoving forward, there is plenty of scope for future growth. As well as generating plenty of interest from their UK-based members, the GCA have also been in discussions with their Canadian counterparts to provide access to the LMS for their members \u2013 despite there being several Canada-based LMS providers!\\n&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">Even before the system was launched, 10 members, representing 25 garden centres, agreed to join GROW based on the concept alone, reaffirming the need and desire to change the way that they trained their employees. GROW has increased membership numbers by 500% and now has 119 garden centres from 48 members and over 11,000 UK-based garden centre employees benefitting from <a href=\"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/?post_type=partner&#038;p=32695\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hubken\u2019s<\/a> Totara Learn online training platform.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-52110\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-2-Darren-Bindert-1024x818.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 763px) 100vw, 763px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-2-Darren-Bindert-1024x818.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-2-Darren-Bindert-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-2-Darren-Bindert-768x613.jpg 768w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-2-Darren-Bindert-1536x1227.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-2-Darren-Bindert-2048x1635.jpg 2048w\" alt=\"\" width=\"763\" height=\"609\" \/><\/h3>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Even before the system was launched, 10 members, representing 25 garden centres, agreed to join GROW based on the concept alone, reaffirming the need and desire to change the way that they trained their employees. GROW has increased membership numbers by 500% and now has 119 garden centres from 48 members and over 11,000 UK-based garden centre employees benefitting from Hubken\u2019s Totara Learn online training platform. \\n\\nThrough their system, the GCA is able to use the extensive knowledge of subject matter experts from within their membership to create bespoke content and produce courses that are specific to the various issues their industry and clients are facing. Using its member\u2019s expert knowledge, even the most complex of subjects can be brought to life with stimulating and engaging content that learners not only respond to, but most importantly, remember.\\n\\nAs their Totara site ensures that all the training is centralised, standardised and consistent, it allows easy and full access to an entire suite of courses that are easy for learners to digest. Moreover, the fact that the system is always available and accessible by any device, means the GCA\u2019s member\u2019s employees are able to learn at their own pace and at a time that is convenient for them. This has helped ensure that high numbers of garden centre staff are being trained in compulsory modules. This compulsory training is also being completed much more quickly as the online learning process means staff no longer have to wait for trainer-led courses to begin. \\n\\nGROW is provided as a subscription to GCA members, meaning training costs are much more stable and represent outstanding value for money. Members have seen dramatic savings as they\u2019ve moved away from traditional face-to-face training. Some have seen a 90% drop in the cost of training since the introduction of GROW, along with experiencing a significantly reduced operational impact on the business as staff no longer spend so much time away from their usual duties. \\n\\nTotara\u2019s powerful reporting functions allow individual garden centres to easily monitor training records and automate refresher training before it\u2019s due. GCA members report that it is not uncommon to have 100% employee participation in online training. \\nMoving forward, there is plenty of scope for future growth. As well as generating plenty of interest from their UK-based members, the GCA have also been in discussions with their Canadian counterparts to provide access to the LMS for their members \u2013 despite there being several Canada-based LMS providers!\\n&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">Through their system, the GCA is able to use the extensive knowledge of subject matter experts from within their membership to create bespoke content and produce courses that are specific to the various issues their industry and clients are facing. Using its member\u2019s expert knowledge, even the most complex of subjects can be brought to life with stimulating and engaging content that learners not only respond to, but most importantly, remember.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>As their Totara site ensures that all the training is centralised, standardised and consistent, it allows easy and full access to an entire suite of courses that are easy for learners to digest. Moreover, the fact that the system is always available and accessible by any device, means the GCA\u2019s member\u2019s employees are able to learn at their own pace and at a time that is convenient for them. This has helped ensure that high numbers of garden centre staff are being trained in compulsory modules. This compulsory training is also being completed much more quickly as the online learning process means staff no longer have to wait for trainer-led courses to begin.<\/p>\n<p>GROW is provided as a subscription to GCA members, meaning training costs are much more stable and represent outstanding value for money. Members have seen dramatic savings as they\u2019ve moved away from traditional face-to-face training. Some have seen a 90% drop in the cost of training since the introduction of GROW, along with experiencing a significantly reduced operational impact on the business as staff no longer spend so much time away from their usual duties.<\/p>\n<p>Totara\u2019s powerful reporting functions allow individual garden centres to easily monitor training records and automate refresher training before it\u2019s due. GCA members report that it is not uncommon to have 100% employee participation in online training.<\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Even before the system was launched, 10 members, representing 25 garden centres, agreed to join GROW based on the concept alone, reaffirming the need and desire to change the way that they trained their employees. GROW has increased membership numbers by 500% and now has 119 garden centres from 48 members and over 11,000 UK-based garden centre employees benefitting from Hubken\u2019s Totara Learn online training platform. \\n\\nThrough their system, the GCA is able to use the extensive knowledge of subject matter experts from within their membership to create bespoke content and produce courses that are specific to the various issues their industry and clients are facing. Using its member\u2019s expert knowledge, even the most complex of subjects can be brought to life with stimulating and engaging content that learners not only respond to, but most importantly, remember.\\n\\nAs their Totara site ensures that all the training is centralised, standardised and consistent, it allows easy and full access to an entire suite of courses that are easy for learners to digest. Moreover, the fact that the system is always available and accessible by any device, means the GCA\u2019s member\u2019s employees are able to learn at their own pace and at a time that is convenient for them. This has helped ensure that high numbers of garden centre staff are being trained in compulsory modules. This compulsory training is also being completed much more quickly as the online learning process means staff no longer have to wait for trainer-led courses to begin. \\n\\nGROW is provided as a subscription to GCA members, meaning training costs are much more stable and represent outstanding value for money. Members have seen dramatic savings as they\u2019ve moved away from traditional face-to-face training. Some have seen a 90% drop in the cost of training since the introduction of GROW, along with experiencing a significantly reduced operational impact on the business as staff no longer spend so much time away from their usual duties. \\n\\nTotara\u2019s powerful reporting functions allow individual garden centres to easily monitor training records and automate refresher training before it\u2019s due. GCA members report that it is not uncommon to have 100% employee participation in online training. \\nMoving forward, there is plenty of scope for future growth. As well as generating plenty of interest from their UK-based members, the GCA have also been in discussions with their Canadian counterparts to provide access to the LMS for their members \u2013 despite there being several Canada-based LMS providers!\\n&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:771,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16773836},&quot;11&quot;:3,&quot;12&quot;:0}\">Moving forward, there is plenty of scope for future growth. As well as generating plenty of interest from their UK-based members, the GCA have also been in discussions with their Canadian counterparts to provide access to the LMS for their members \u2013 despite there being several Canada-based LMS providers!<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-52105\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-1-Darren-Bindert-1024x766.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 708px) 100vw, 708px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-1-Darren-Bindert-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-1-Darren-Bindert-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-1-Darren-Bindert-768x575.jpg 768w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-1-Darren-Bindert-1536x1149.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GCA-1-Darren-Bindert-2048x1533.jpg 2048w\" alt=\"\" width=\"708\" height=\"530\" \/><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n<div class='inline-quote-container themeGreen'>\n      <blockquote>It is a great testimony to its ease of use and efficacy that GROW has become a part of the daily fabric of activity within our three garden centres.\n<\/blockquote>\n        <figure>\n            <figcaption>\n        <strong>Steve Fry,<\/strong>\n        <br \/>\n        Duty Manager      <\/figcaption>\n    <\/figure>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n<div class='inline-text-container MobileAlignment DesktopAlignment'>\n  <div class='richText'><em><strong>Partner update<\/strong>: At the time this project was delivered, GCA worked with Hubken as their Totara Partner. GCA is now supported by <a href=\"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/partners\/think-learning\/\" data-faitracker-click-bind=\"true\">Think Learning.<\/a><\/em>\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","tax\/tags":[684,719,728],"tax\/countries":[789],"tax\/sectors":[790],"org-size":[783],"tax\/solutions":[778],"tax\/topics":[688,795],"tax\/industries":[833],"class_list":["post-52271","customer-story","type-customer-story","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/customer-stories\/52271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/customer-stories"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/customer-story"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tax\/tags?post=52271"},{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tax\/countries?post=52271"},{"taxonomy":"sector","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tax\/sectors?post=52271"},{"taxonomy":"org-size","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/org-size?post=52271"},{"taxonomy":"solution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tax\/solutions?post=52271"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tax\/topics?post=52271"},{"taxonomy":"industry-tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.totara.fortyapp.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tax\/industries?post=52271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}