March 19, 2025
The Challenge
Manchester University Student Union employs a high number of students across its hospitality outlets, including cafés, bars, and restaurants. While students receive on-the-job training, the Union identified a need for online resources to complement this.
They wanted a solution that new staff could access before their first shift, helping them feel prepared and reducing first-day nerves. The resources also needed to serve as an ongoing reference—particularly for those changing roles or unsure about certain tasks. Essentially, they wanted to cover the kind of practical information that staff might feel uncomfortable asking about but could make a big difference to their confidence.
The Solution
With a small grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Student Union had a limited budget but a clear vision. By working closely with them, we were able to maximise their investment and create engaging, effective training materials.
We developed a solution using 360-degree images, on-site photographs, and videos featuring real students demonstrating good practice. This approach makes the training both visually engaging and authentic, reflecting the reality of the roles while reinforcing best practices in a familiar and relatable way.
The Impact
The modules are now in use across the bars, catering, and kitchen teams, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Staff report feeling more confident in their day-to-day roles, and the resources have become a valuable part of the Student Union’s onboarding process.
“We were dying to work with Little Man Project, and when we secured funding to create elearning content, we knew exactly where we wanted to invest it! Gill and her team were fantastic—they took time to understand our needs, suggested creative ideas to enhance the final product, and brought invaluable expertise to the project. The resulting resources truly reflect our brand and, most importantly, work for our students.”
Hannah Hopkins, Associate Director of People
Example Screens
