Blue Arrow plays the game

Recruitment specialists Blue Arrow are allowing staff to play computer games at work!

We are not talking space invaders here. Instead as part of the companyís commitment to the role of technology in staff development, employees are being introduced to an innovative games package designed to further enhance commercial awareness and build strong relationships with new clients.

The games, developed by marketing agency WorksUnit, have now been played three times over the last eight months with great success. Adopting a different topical theme each time, the Intranet based games provide a live interactive forum in which the company's 1500 staff across its 200 strong branch network, can take part.

In the most recent game, entitled ìAround the World in Eighty Salesî, participants competed in a 3-hour virtual round the world balloon race.
Each Blue Arrow branch recorded its sales activity and successes online. These were automatically converted into points in real time on the score board, showing where they were placed against other offices. Points also triggered Flash animations of the competing balloons as they raced on their perilous journey around the world. Live commentary and the occasional taunt fed through the message system added to the competitive spirit of the event.

The effect on sales was dramatic, with Blue Arrow estimating that each time the game was played over 200,000 of new business was generated.


ìThe games have been a huge success. We wanted to motivate all 1500 staff at the same time in 200 different locations across the country to focus on maximising new business opportunities explains Kevin Mann, Blue Arrow's Head of Marketing. The games, run through our Intranet, brought them all together for 3 hours. The buzz it generated was fantastic.

Huw Arthur, Business Development Director at WorksUnit, added, ìThe game system is very flexible so itís easy to change the graphics to keep it fresh. It can be tailored to any timeframe or theme clients may wish.