Churchill has won the IWFM Impact Award for Technology for Project Oculus, its Virtual Reality (VR) training programme for cleaning operatives. The programme has been specifically designed for cleaning operatives on trains as rail is one of the key sectors in which Churchill operates.
Project Oculus’ immersive VR technology won the award due to its non-traditional approach to training through technology. Rather than sitting in front of a computer or reading manuals, the VR software fully immerses cleaning operatives in the actual tasks they will perform. The programme allows trainees to virtually walk through a train carriage and complete turn-around tasks and includes training around security and safety procedures.
This creates a tailored and exciting experience for trainees that offers individualised feedback that can be immediately actioned. The project aims to make training more inclusive for neurodiverse individuals and offers multiple language options.
The project won due to its innovation and agile methods, driven by VR design partners across weekly development phases where the team tested and reviewed the technology to create the best possible model. The project was said to be harnessing the latest technology to deliver a modern training package and immerse users in a convincing world of on-the-job experiences, creating an excellent technology innovation for the future.