Double award win for learning talent at Sponge

Kate Nicholls, Head of Innovation at leading learning company, Sponge has won a second award recognising her talent as a digital learning designer.

At the Learning and Performance Institute’s (LPI) Learning Awards, she was named Learning Professional of the Year (bronze winner) at a gala evening on Thursday, February 2 at The Dorchester, London.

It’s her second major award after taking the gold prize for Learning Technologies Designer of the Year at the Learning Technologies Awards 2016-17.

Working with some of the biggest global brands like Coca-Cola, Tesco and Google, Kate is pioneering new technologies and approaches to make digital learning more inspiring and successful.

I am able to ask ‘What If?’ to drive more courageous and mould-breaking solutions. One of the barriers to innovative and effective workplace learning is the way work is commissioned. We need to avoid baking the solution in as a foregone conclusion if we want to open up the possibilities.

Kate Nicholls Head of Innovation Sponge

Most recently, Kate has worked on a year-long project to explore the learning applications of interactive 360° video and virtual reality (VR). She presented a seminar of the topic at Learning Technologies 2017, Europe’s biggest L&D event, on February 1, 2017 at London Olympia.

“My starting point for the project was a question: Can 360° content aid learning, and if so, how? By combining elearning tools with the latest 360° filming techniques, we’ve been able to add an interactive layer to 360° video. This innovation is opening up the learning potential of 360° and VR and making the technology more accessible for organisations.” - Kate Nicholls

The Learning and Performance Institute host its annual Learning Awards to recognise outstanding examples of high standards, best practice, innovation and excellence in Learning and Development.

Kate's inquisitive and enquiring approach, focused on business and client results, has enabled her to develop and deliver some creative and innovative learning solutions, particularly in terms of digital, video and interactive programmes. Continually developing her own and her colleagues' skills, she exemplifies modern learning practices. Judges' citation Learning Awards 2017