Team Fisher, the Capita-led consortium driving data and technology-led transformation of Royal Navy training, has successfully completed the final milestone set out under its original contract to get better trained people to the frontline, faster.
The consortium, which includes Raytheon UK, Elbit Systems UK, Fujitsu, the University of Lincoln and several smaller British suppliers, has today assumed responsibility for Submarine Escape Rescue, Abandonment and Survival (SMERAS).
Based at HMNB Clyde, SMERAS is a unique, modern, purpose-built facility that enables the Royal Navy and Team Fisher to deliver essential on shore training for personnel in vital escape, rescue, abandonment and survival techniques using a unique, controllable training environment. The individual and collective training is centred on a blend of practical and classroom teaching, with the SMERAS facility capable of delivering a minimum of 82 courses to more than 2,700 trainees per year.
This is the final of eight contract milestones under the Project Selborne contract, signed in 2021, bringing together 27 individual contracts into a single construct and worth approximately £1 billion over 12 years for Capita.
In the two years since Project Selborne launched, Team Fisher has embraced true strategic partnering with the Royal Navy to embed a genuine whole force approach to training delivery. With a focus on continuous improvement and training excellence, the project has benefitted from a culture programme to underpin ways of working across the on-shore Royal Navy training organisation, with a focus on improving collaboration, behaviours and skills.
Team Fisher is focused on the continued modernisation of Royal Navy training, not only through the upskilling of the training delivery workforce to world class educators, but also through the delivery of new training systems, including future delivery of a new school for submarine training, new bridge trainers at several key locations, modernised and technologically enabled classrooms and virtual reality training headsets for the School of Flight Deck Ops.
From today, Raytheon UK will deliver training analysis and design, and training equipment support and maintenance. Capita will deliver data and AI-led training support, planning, scheduling and quality management, working side-by-side with Royal Navy instructors.
Team Fisher’s approach is making learning more personalised for Service personnel, which aligns with the Royal Navy’s wider transformation agenda to make training more flexible and efficient, and to minimise time spent away from the front line.
Colonel Aaron Fisher, Commandant Training Management Group said:
“It is excellent to see our strategic partner, Team Fisher, achieve another important project milestone: the concluding transition of multiple legacy contracts into Project Selborne. The collaborative approach with Team Fisher underpins our commitment to modernise Royal Navy training and deliver better trained sailors and marines to the frontline faster.”
David Hook, Managing Director of Capita Defence Training, said:
“We are proud of the progress we have made since taking over the Selborne contract in April 2021, and of the vital role Capita is playing in helping the Royal Navy keep the UK safe by modernising shore-based training.
“The successful delivery of SMERAS concludes the original eight contracted transitions and is testament to the strengths of the Team Fisher consortium and our strategic partnering and very strong collaborative relationship with the Royal Navy. We look forward to maintaining excellence in current delivery and further innovating with new and improved teaching and technology for the Royal Navy as this partnership evolves.”
Stephen Hart, Head of Training Transformation Services, Raytheon UK, said:
“Raytheon UK is delighted to be taking on responsibility for the support and maintenance of the Submarine Escape, Rescue, Abandonment and Survival (SMERAS) facility.
“Our experience and expertise, alongside the capabilities of our Team Fisher partners, will ensure that the men and women of the Royal Navy continue to get realistic, immersive, and challenging training that prepares them for life at sea.”
Notes to editors:
Team Fisher is combining a range of sophisticated technologies, processes and training management systems to fulfil the 12-year Royal Navy shore-based training contract. It is:
- Reviewing and modernising all training courses and providing accompanying analytics to ensure training methods best meet the Royal Navy’s needs.
- Running live on-the-ground training, and developing and deploying new methods, including digital learning and training simulation technology.
- Managing all the associated Royal Navy training equipment including procurement and decommissioning.
- Providing data through performance dashboards for Royal Navy management and managing IT infrastructure.
- Improving accreditation and apprenticeship management and running Royal Navy learning and development hubs and career advice services.
- Marketing Royal Navy courses to the wider international defence market and identifying further revenue opportunities for the service.
- Delivering a truly collaborative approach with the Royal Navy
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