Your immersive learning journey starts here

Totem Learning are a UK-based learning design studio specialising in immersive learning, virtual reality training, gamified eLearning, and AI-powered practice-based learning for organisations. Founded in 2012, we work with businesses, public sector organisations, and regulated industries to design learning experiences that change behaviour and improve performance, not just transfer knowledge.

Totem Learning combines behavioural science, game design, immersive technology, and AI personas to create practical learning solutions that deliver measurable business impact.

Totem Learning is not a generic off-the-shelf learning platform. We are a strategic learning partner that designs and delivers custom and semi-custom immersive training solutions, including:

• Immersive learning and simulations

• Virtual reality training and VR simulations

• Gamified eLearning and interactive training

• AI-powered practice tools such as Sona AI

Solutions are designed to integrate with existing learning ecosystems rather than replace them.

Totem Learning’s solutions are designed to work as part of a blended learning ecosystem, which may include:

• Immersive learning and simulations for decision-making and technical practice

• Virtual reality training and VR simulations for high-risk or complex environments

• Gamified eLearning and interactive training for knowledge and reinforcement

• Sona AI, Totem’s AI-powered communication and practice-based learning tool, for developing people skills and confidence

We help organisations select and combine the right approaches based on their learning objectives, audience, and business outcomes.

It varies, but typically it can take 3-6 months from concept design through to delivery.

Elements such as content complexity, replayability, and review cycles all feed into project duration.

Immersive learning significantly boosts engagement, retention, and practical application of skills. It allows employees to experience real-world scenarios, leading to better understanding and preparation. This approach also caters to various learning styles, making training more effective and inclusive.

Effectiveness can be measured using various metrics, including:

- Engagement levels (e.g., time spent in the programme, completion rates)

- Knowledge retention (pre- and post-assessment scores)

- Behavioural change (observed changes in workplace behaviour)

- ROI (return on investment, considering training costs versus performance improvements)

Immersive learning often involves technologies such as:

- Virtual Reality (VR) headsets and environments

- Augmented Reality (AR) overlays and apps

- Interactive 3D simulations

- Gamification elements (badges, points, leaderboards)

- Interactive videos

Implementing immersive learning involves several steps:

1) Identify the training needs: Determine which areas of your training would benefit most from immersive learning. Ideally this would be where learners need time to practice and apply their knowledge and skills safely without real world consequence.

2) Choose the Right Technology: Select the appropriate immersive technologies that align with your training objectives or better yet work with an expert studio like Totem Learning to recommend fit for purpose technology.

3) Develop Content: Create engaging, realistic scenarios and simulations tailored to your training needs.

4) Pilot Program: Start with a small-scale pilot to test and refine the approach.

5) Full Deployment: Roll out the program across your organisation, ensuring all necessary support and resources are in place.

6) Monitor and Evaluate: Continuously track performance and gather feedback to improve the program.

We provide comprehensive support, including:

- Consultation to identify your specific needs and objectives

- Custom content development tailored to your training requirements

- Technical setup and integration with your existing systems

- Training for your team on how to use and manage the immersive learning tools

- Ongoing support and updates to ensure your program remains effective and up-to-date

Costs can vary based on the complexity and scope of the immersive learning solution. Factors influencing cost include the type of technology used (e.g., VR headsets, software development), content complexity, and implementation services. We offer customised solutions to fit different budgets and training needs, ensuring you receive the best value for your investment.

Totem Learning is best suited for organisations that need learning to change behaviour, build confidence, and improve real-world performance, not just deliver information.

This includes:

• HR and L&D teams responsible for capability building

• Organisations with complex, high-risk, or high-stakes roles

• Businesses looking to move beyond passive eLearning courses

• Teams investing in immersive training, VR simulations, or AI-driven practice

Yes. While we work extensively with large organisations, solutions can be designed for pilot programmes, targeted teams, or specific capability gaps.

Many organisations start with a focused immersive learning or Sona AI pilot before scaling more widely across the business.

Yes, immersive learning can be adapted to suit a wide range of industries, from healthcare and manufacturing to finance and retail. Any sector that requires effective training for skill development, compliance, or safety can benefit from immersive learning solutions.

Absolutely. We work closely with you to understand your unique training requirements and objectives, developing customised immersive learning experiences that align with your organisation's goals. Whether you need industry-specific scenarios or tailored skill development programs, we can create a solution that fits your needs perfectly.

Immersive learning uses interactive and experiential methods to help employees practice skills in realistic, risk-free environments. In corporate training, immersive learning focuses on behaviour change, confidence building, and real-world application rather than passive content consumption.

Virtual reality training places learners inside realistic simulated environments using VR technology. Learners can practice procedures, decision-making, and communication skills safely, making VR training especially effective for high-risk or high-stakes scenarios.

In corporate training, it allows employees to practise skills, make decisions, and experience consequences in a safe, controlled setting. Organisations use virtual reality training to improve performance, reduce risk, and build confidence in areas such as leadership, safety, technical operations, and customer interactions.

VR simulations allow learners to practice repeatedly, experience consequences of decisions, and build muscle memory. This leads to improved confidence, faster time to competence, and stronger behavioural change.

By practicing decisions and actions in realistic contexts, learners engage emotionally and cognitively. This strengthens retention and embeds better habits, supported by behavioural science and repetition.

We work with businesses, public sector organisations, and regulated industries to design learning experiences that change behaviour and improve performance, not just transfer knowledge.

We focus on learning that delivers measurable improvements in confidence, decision-making, and real-world performance.

Organisations use immersive learning, VR simulations, gamified eLearning, and Sona AI to:

• Reduce risk through safe practice

• Improve consistency in skills and behaviours

• Increase engagement and application compared to passive eLearning

• Support behavioural change in complex or high-stakes roles

Outcomes and success measures are defined upfront and reviewed throughout delivery to ensure learning investment delivers real value. Our case studies highlight the successful application of our custom corporate training solutions across varied industries.

VR headsets are not always required.

We design immersive learning solutions that can be delivered in different ways depending on the learning objective, audience, and organisational constraints.

Some experiences use virtual reality headsets where full immersion adds value, while others are delivered through browsers or standard devices as interactive simulations or gamified eLearning.

Sona AI does not require VR hardware and is designed for scalable, accessible deployment across teams using existing devices.

We help organisations select the most appropriate delivery format rather than defaulting to specialist hardware.

Immersive learning is the umbrella approach focused on experiential learning. VR training uses headsets and 3D environments. Gamified eLearning applies game mechanics to digital learning. We recommend the right approach based on the learning challenge, not the technology.

Immersive learning can enhance various types of training, including:

1) Onboarding and orientation

2) Compliance training

3) Leadership development

4) Technical skills training

5) Customer service training

6) Safety and emergency response training

and many others!

Immersive learning solutions are highly scalable. Once developed, digital simulations and VR/AR content can be easily deployed to multiple locations and accessed by numerous employees simultaneously. This scalability makes it an efficient solution for large organisations.

Sona AI is our AI-powered communication training solution. It allows learners to practice real-world conversations with AI personas in a safe environment, receiving personalised feedback to improve confidence and capability.

Sona AI brings practice-based learning to communication and leadership skills. It complements immersive learning and VR by enabling adaptive, conversational practice where nuance and judgement matter most.

Sona AI supports skills such as leadership conversations, feedback delivery, customer interactions, performance management, and handling difficult conversations.

No. Sona AI complements VR training, immersive simulations, and eLearning courses by adding scalable, repeatable conversation practice.

Yes. Sona AI is designed for organisational deployment, with a focus on data privacy, ethical AI use, and enterprise scalability.

You can book a demo or speak with us to explore how Sona AI fits into your wider learning strategy.

You can start by speaking with us to explore whether immersive learning, VR training, gamified eLearning, or Sona AI is the right fit for their needs.

Initial conversations typically focus on:

• The business or performance challenge

• Learner audience and context

• Desired outcomes and success measures

• The most appropriate learning approach

Yes. We specialises in working with enterprise organisations and regulated sectors where safety, compliance, consistency, and behavioural change are critical.

This includes industries such as healthcare, energy, transport, finance, public sector, and complex operational environments. Our solutions are designed to create safe spaces for practice without real-world risk.

We don’t offer fixed-price subscriptions in the way traditional eLearning platforms do. Pricing is based on factors such as:

• The type of solution (immersive learning, VR training, gamified eLearning, or Sona AI)

• Level of customisation required

• Scale of deployment and number of learners

• Integration and analytics requirements

This approach ensures you pay for learning that directly supports your performance and capability goals, rather than generic content licences.

Our corporate training solutions are designed to complement and work alongside your existing Learning Management System (LMS). An LMS ( like Moodle, Cornerstone, SAP SuccessFactors, Docebo, or Totara) is the platform organisations use to deliver, manage and track training.

Our immersive learning experiences, VR training, gamified eLearning, and Sona AI are typically delivered in ways that allow outcomes and learner progress to be aligned with your LMS reporting and learner journeys, using standard interoperability technologies (such as SCORM, xAPI or APIs) where supported.

Because integration requirements vary by platform and organisational setup, we work with your IT and L&D teams to plan and implement a solution that fits your systems, security requirements, and learning ecosystem. This approach avoids replacing your LMS and supports secure, scalable deployment across your organisation.

We consider accessibility and inclusion from the first stage of learning design. All our immersive learning, VR training, gamified eLearning, and Sona AI are designed to support a wide range of learners, abilities, and contexts.

Accessibility considerations are built into design decisions such as interaction methods, pacing, feedback, and delivery format. Where appropriate, we work with organisations to align learning experiences with accessibility standards and organisational inclusion goals, particularly in regulated or public-facing environments.

Our process helps ensure learning is effective, inclusive, and appropriate for your diverse workforce.

We design our corporate training solutions with data responsibility and governance in mind. Learning analytics are used to support evaluation, improvement, and decision-making, not unnecessary data collection.

Where our solutions integrate with an existing LMS or reporting environment, learner progress and outcomes can be aligned with organisational reporting structures. Data handling approaches are agreed in collaboration with learning, IT, and governance teams to ensure they meet organisational policies and regulatory requirements.

This ensures insight without compromising trust or compliance.

An initial conversation with us is exploratory and focused on understanding your context rather than selling a predefined solution.

Early discussions typically cover:

• The business or performance challenge you are trying to solve

• Learner roles, environments, and constraints

• Existing learning systems and programmes

• What success would look like for your organisation

From there, we advise on whether immersive learning, VR training, gamified eLearning, Sona AI, or a blended approach is the most appropriate next step.