Navigatr: Empowering Organisations Through Digital Badging

Introduction to Navigatr

Navigatr is a comprehensive SaaS platform dedicated to the creation, management, and tracking of digital badges for skill development, learning pathways, and professional recognition. Designed to support various organisations across the public and private sectors—including educational institutions, employers, charities, awarding bodies, local authorities, and government departments—Navigatr provides a powerful solution for skill recognition and workforce development. Through digital badging, Navigatr helps organisation create verifiable, shareable credentials that bridge the gap between learning and real-world employment opportunities.

The History of Navigatr

Navigatr’s journey began with an ambitious vision to make learning recognition more accessible and impactful across cities and communities. The platform’s origins trace back to paper-based co-designs with stakeholders in 2012, where the concept of badges as recognised learning credentials first emerged.

In 2014, Navigatr’s potential began to take shape in Leeds, UK, through BadgeLAB Leeds, a collaborative project aimed at creating citywide digital badging initiatives involving a diverse set of stakeholders. This pilot program highlighted the need for a comprehensive badging framework that connected skills to tangible job opportunities, and it laid the groundwork for the platform’s future growth.

Since then, Navigatr has undergone transformative advancements:

• 2020: Introduction of skills tagging from large databases to improve badge relevance.
• 2021: Implementation of the Skills Scanner, powered by Lightcast data, allowing for automated skills suggestions.
• 2022: Integration of AI technology to simplify badge creation, with smart tagging and customisable metadata, making Navigatr a user-friendly, efficient platform for organisations of all sizes.

Navigatr has now established itself as a leading digital badging solution, empowering organisations worldwide to create verified, data-rich credentials that are meaningful to both learners and employers.

Core Benefits of Navigatr for Diverse Organisations

Navigatr’s versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of organisations. Here’s how Navigatr supports the goals of educational institutions, employers, and public sector bodies:

1. Educational Institutions: Recognising Skills and Boosting Engagement

Navigatr’s digital badges provide a valuable tool for universities, colleges, and schools by formally recognising learning and skill acquisition, motivating students, and enhancing employability prospects.

Example: Leeds University EDI Program
Leeds University uses Navigatr to support its Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) program, awarding badges for topics such as workplace diversity and legal discrimination awareness. This approach allows students and staff to document their commitment to EDI and share verified achievements on LinkedIn, CVs, and professional profiles.

Powerful Analytics
Navigatr enables institutions to track student engagement, badge issuance, and completion rates through data-rich analytics, helping institutions measure program success and identify areas for improvement. For example, institutions using Navigatr have reported a 93% course completion rate and a significant increase in course inquiries.

2. Local Authorities and City Programs: Building Pathways to Employment

Navigatr has proven to be a valuable asset for local authorities and city governments aiming to bridge skill gaps and connect residents to employment opportunities.

Example: Belfast City Council
Belfast uses Navigatr to create digital badges linked to local job opportunities. By connecting skills development with real-world jobs, Navigatr pathways help sustain employment opportunities for residents. Necole Dougharty, Skills Development Officer for Belfast City Council, has highlighted how the local jobs feed within Navigatr “provides an amazing addition to pathways, helping to sustain further employment opportunities for our residents.”

Inclusivity and Accessibility
Navigatr’s Badge Design Framework supports SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) learners, allowing local programs to reach underserved groups and make learning recognition more inclusive.

3. Employers and Private Sector Organisations: Attracting, Retaining, and Developing Talent

For private sector companies, digital badging is a strategic tool for talent acquisition, retention, and development. By offering badges for skill achievements, companies can document and promote employee growth, align workforce skills with organisational goals, and improve brand recognition.

Example: IBM Skills Development
IBM implemented Navigatr badges within its courses and reported a 694% increase in course completions due to the enhanced engagement provided by digital credentials. By allowing employees to share badges on LinkedIn and other platforms, IBM boosts its brand visibility and strengthens its professional reputation.

4. Charities, Nonprofits, and Community Organisations: Engaging and Empowering Participants

Navigatr empowers community organisations to recognise skill development and foster a sense of accomplishment among participants, encouraging greater program engagement.

Example: HelloHope Leeds-Based Pathway
This initiative in Leeds uses Navigatr badges to acknowledge attendance and progress in programs focused on supporting marginalized communities. Pathways are tailored to provide continuous skill development and enable participants to track their journey through visual badges, motivating them to achieve more and building their confidence.

Key Features and Capabilities of Navigatr

• AI-Powered Badge Creation
• Flexible Pathways and Skill Progression
• Data-Driven Insights and Impact Tracking
• Customisable Badging Framework
• Shareable and Verifiable Credentials
• End-to-End Security and Data Compliance
• Accessible and Inclusive Design

Conclusion: Transforming Skill Recognition Across Sectors

Navigatr is a powerful digital badging platform that serves as a bridge between learning and employment, enabling organisations to create recognised pathways to success. Whether used by universities to enhance student engagement, city councils to address workforce needs, or employers to attract and retain talent, Navigatr’s flexible and comprehensive badging solution supports skills development across sectors.

With features like AI-assisted badge creation, data-rich analytics, and secure, shareable credentials, Navigatr empowers organisations to showcase skills, drive engagement, and measure program success. By offering tailored pathways and recognising diverse achievements, Navigatr is helping organisations foster inclusive learning ecosystems and build stronger connections between individuals and career opportunities.

For more information on how Navigatr can support your organisation’s goals, visit https://navigatr.app.