In all Northgate training activities or business simulations, participants are first divided into teams. Then you, the Trainer, introduce the activity and issue teams with the resources supplied. These vary from activity to activity – it might be a briefing folder with details of their role and who they represent; or instructions on how to play a game on a specific learning topic. For virtual sessions, you can opt to send team resources directly to teams via the ‘delegate lobby’ on the Northgate Trainerhub.

How to introduce an activity is listed in the Trainer’s Notes for each activity or business simulation. And if you have any questions, simply call our Trainer Helpline for friendly help and advice – we are always on hand to answer questions. You can also ask other L&D professionals via the Northgate Trainer Forum for their experiences of using a Northgate activity.

Once teams begin to work on the task, you can observe them and note behaviours, attitudes, how objectives are set, whether a leader emerges, how teams handle conflict, decision-making etc.

Northgate activities are all designed to get delegates ‘Learning by Doing’ so our advice to you during this phase of the activity is to stay quiet and not get involved!

You get a very good idea of how teams are working and an insight into individual skills, behaviours and attitudes. This is why Northgate activities are so useful for training, as well as for assessment and recruitment, because they reveal how a person may react in real situations (rather than how they say they would react). There’s simply nowhere to hide! Typically, teams get involved and engaged and true behaviours emerge. All good material for the Debrief.

The Debrief is the most important part of the training session. It is an opportunity to listen to teams' experiences during the task, bring out the learning points and consolidate plans for improvement back at work.

First, they need to know how they have performed and perhaps what they could have done better. Second, specific answers should be shared and explained. Third, they need to know why they were put through the experience. The lessons must be shown to relate to what happens in the workplace. It is often surprising how many connections participants see between the activity and real life. This is of great help when drawing up an Action Plan to capture the issues that were highlighted in the activity. These insights can be implemented when teams return to the workplace. Summarising the learning and emphasising key points are essential and full guidance is supplied in the Trainer's Notes.

Participants remember Northgate activities long after the training has finished, making the learning memorable, fun and, most importantly, effective.