Using digital badges for employee development and recognition
We caught up with Beverley Howlett, Organisational Development Learning Partner for Cambridge City Council to find out how their journey with digital badges is going so far.
The council's initial implementation of badges focused on corporate inductions for new employees. The badges are also awarded at the council’s annual staff awards ceremony, where custom badges are created for each award category. These badges serve as both a symbol of recognition and a digital record of the employee's achievement.
To facilitate the badge process, the council writes badges using Badge Nation and issues them via the Navigtr or Open Badge Factory platforms. The Learning and Development team, which oversees the initiative, found this platform to be particularly user-friendly. While the implementation of badges has been a relatively recent development, the team has expressed an interest in expanding their use in the future. They hope to incorporate badges into areas like volunteering, work experience, and other training and development opportunities. Beverley Howlett, Organisational Development Learning Partner, Cambridge City Council said,
“Employees are sharing their badges on their email signatures, but the council has not yet conducted a thorough investigation to see how widely badges are being shared elsewhere.”
Currently, badges are utilised within the council's Fundamental Qualifications Project, for training purposes, and for employee awards. Looking ahead, the council plans to extend their use into areas such as apprenticeship programs, work experience opportunities, and career progression pathways. The team has also identified a gap in badge claims, with many employees not yet claiming badges they are eligible for. This could be due to a misunderstanding of the badge system, and the council plans to address this through follow-up work and increased awareness.
The goal for Cambridge City Council is to use digital badges to develop and track employee skills, helping employees grow in their roles and advance in their careers. By expanding the use of badges, they hope to provide clearer pathways for employees to progress through various career stages within the council. Beverley Howlett, Organisational Development Learning Partner, Cambridge City Council said,
"Digital badges have been a valuable tool in supporting employee development and recognition at Cambridge City Council. Since their introduction, we've used them for corporate inductions, training courses, and staff awards. The simplicity of Badge Nation has made implementation smooth, and badges have been a great way to celebrate achievements. We’ve seen badges added to email signatures, showing that employees are proud of their accomplishments. As we look to expand their use into areas like apprenticeships and career progression, we're excited about the potential to help employees develop and track their skills in a more engaging and meaningful way."
In conclusion, digital badges at Cambridge City Council are still in their early stages but have shown promise as a tool for employee development and recognition. With plans for expansion and increased employee engagement, the council is well on its way to using badges to create a more dynamic, skill-focused work environment.
