Calnex

Who they are

Calnex Solutions is a Scottish technology business specialising in test and measurement solutions for critical telecoms infrastructure, with teams operating across the UK, USA, China and India.

The challenge

Calnex had grown quickly, increasing turnover and headcount by 40% in just 12 months.

As the organisation expanded, it wanted to make sure its people had the skills to grow with it.

That meant strengthening the practical, non-technical capabilities people use every day, from communication and collaboration to resilience, emotional intelligence and managing priorities, while continuing to protect the culture that had helped the business succeed.

“The sessions provide an excellent opportunity to reflect on current ways of working. I found there was always at least one useful concept or insight that can be applied immediately.”

The solution

We started by asking Calnex's people what they needed.

Connect Three surveyed employees and used 130 responses to identify the skills and topics that would make the biggest difference.

From there, we created a flexible PowerSkills learning experience covering 13 areas including communication and influencing, resilience, time management, coaching, courageous conversations, teamwork, emotional intelligence, psychological safety, global mindset and creativity.

With employees working across different locations and time zones, accessibility mattered.

Sessions were offered in person, remotely and in hybrid formats, with each workshop repeated four times. Employees could choose the topics, times and formats that worked for them rather than having to follow a fixed learning journey.

Every session was designed around practical tools, discussion and application, giving people something they could take back to work immediately.

The impact

Around 50% of the workforce participated in the first round, with more than half of those learners attending three or more sessions.

The learning also created connections across teams, disciplines and cultures, including a workforce representing 22 nationalities at the Linlithgow site alone.

In Calnex’s annual employee survey, 97% of respondents said they believed there was sufficient opportunity to meet their individual career and growth aspirations within the organisation.

Following the success of the first cohort, Calnex launched a second round of PowerSkills and expanded development work into its US team.