Challenge
Aviva ran an idea challenge with its staff to develop sustainable solutions in insurance. The innovation team had collected many ideas from across the company and was looking for a way to build out the best ideas. They were looking for a way for colleagues from around the business to get involved in developing the ideas further in a tangible way. They were also keen to increase participation in innovation and to learn new skills as part of growing their culture of innovation.
Solution
Ninety partnered with Aviva to deliver its High Intensity Innovation Training (HIIT) programme – which is part of the Skills GYM suite – a platform to develop ideas and innovation skills for their employees.
The programme began with a contextual webinar involving sustainability experts. This was followed by a Ninety led ideation session to develop initial ideas. Teams and ideas were then matched and the digital part of the programme began. Each participant had access to the Ninety HIIT platform receiving daily, 25-minute missions to build their idea by shaping its desirability, viability and feasibility aspects. Over the eight weeks, participants got the opportunity to speak to experts and real customers. They were also assisted by coaches from Ninety who helped them stay on track in the development process. At the end of the programme, the teams went through a pitch training session before pitching their ideas to the Aviva Executive Team in a Dragons’ Den-type live event where a winning idea was chosen for further investment.
Benefits
In eight weeks, Aviva equipped over 20 employees with a set of innovation skills, tools and techniques that they can deploy in their future projects. They developed six ideas to a pitch ready stage ahead of further testing and development. A collaborative innovation community has been developed through the programme which can be developed and further build on. The Dragon’s Den enabled senior stakeholders to engage with the programme and provided communication and awareness opportunities across the business. The winning idea is going to be taken as an innovation project into further development.
Testimonials
“The Gym was brilliant in bringing together different people from different backgrounds, uniting as a team behind a mission.”
Sponsor
“We’ve not had the opportunity to collaborate across business functions in this way before. It was great to do so on an important topic.”
HIIT participant
“The Dragon’s Den was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the outcomes from all we had achieved during the 8-week programme.”
HIIT participant
