Transforming Maritime Emergency Response Training
The brief
We were tasked by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to create an educational film explaining maritime emergency response protocols known as Operation Keel. The objective was to increase awareness and understanding across police forces in England and Wales, while presenting complex technical information clearly and engagingly.
The challenge
Maritime law enforcement is highly complex, involving multiple agencies and roles. Previous training materials were overly technical and struggled to engage audiences effectively. The challenge was to simplify critical information without compromising accuracy, while working within budget constraints and ensuring the content would support fast decision-making in high-pressure situations.
How did we add value
We developed a distinctive hand-drawn animation style inspired by the heritage of maritime art, creating a strong visual standout and memorability. We brought real-life scenarios to life through stylised storytelling, supported by scripted voiceover and immersive sound design based on genuine 999 calls. By balancing technical accuracy with clear narrative storytelling, we made complex information more impactful while delivering a cost-effective solution.
Outcome
The film has significantly improved awareness and response to maritime incidents across police forces. Officers are now able to identify Operation Keel scenarios and escalate incidents with greater accuracy. The new approach has helped reduce response times by up to 50%, establish a consistent, national framework for training and ongoing professional development. The work is contributing to more efficient emergency responses and improved public safety.
Switch2 Energy
The challenge
Switch2 were printing, inserting, and mailing letters manually. This process was time-consuming, costly, and offered no audit trail. After learning about APS’s hybrid mail solution, it was thought this could deliver extensive operational benefits.
Our approach
We ran multiple sessions demonstrating MailSecure, our hybrid mail platform, to Switch2 showing how simple and easy it is to use. Key features include the ability to drag and drop mail-merged letters directly from desktop, and the choice of accessing the solution via web-based or print driver options.
We worked closely with Switch2 and their IT team to test, roll out, and train users. Ensuring that everyone was confident using the system.
The result
APS managed the rollout of MailSecure at Switch2, providing expert support throughout implementation and beyond.
The efficiency benefits were quickly realised, particularly for ad hoc letters, leading to wider adoption across the organisation. All mail sent via APS also benefits from agreed contract rates, delivering clear and measurable cost savings.
Client Testimonial
“We value APS as a trusted partner and regularly rely on their Hybrid Mail solution to deliver important customer communications quickly, securely and at scale. The system is intuitive, straightforward and enables our teams to upload bespoke communications with minimal effort. Allowing them to deliver urgent customer contact campaigns in a matter of hours rather than days.
This flexibility is now an important part of our communication strategy, particularly when we need to reach large volumes of customers within tight timescales.
The service plays a vital role in helping us engage with customers who are unable to access or prefer not to use digital communication channels, ensuring they continue to receive timely and important information. APS consistently provides a reliable, efficient and high-quality service, giving us confidence that communications will be printed, dispatched and delivered securely.
Their responsiveness, professionalism and commitment to service excellence make them a valued supplier. They’ve become a trusted extension of our own customer operations capability.”
Gavin Roberts
Head of Customer Operations
Switch2 Energy Limited