Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Virtual welcome for firm's recruits

Charles Arthur Science Editor
Sunday 04 August 1996 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

After the paperless office and the golden hello, a firm of accountants has dreamed up the next stage in technology: the virtual welcome.

New recruits to Morton Thornton, based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, will in future be shown around the three-floor building without leaving their desks - and without taking up the valuable, fee-paying time of other members of staff.

The new virtual-reality tour, which will replace the day-long induction programme that the firm used to offer to its recruits, will also include a guide to the town's cathedral, and pubs.

"It gives you a guided tour in which you can start outside the front door of the practice and 'walk' through the front door and all over the building," said Christopher Lowe, a partner in the 70-strong firm.

The guided tour takes the form of movies in which the user can control the speed and direction of travel. The pictures were collected from digitised camera and video films made on the premises.

But the program's usefulness extends much further. "It can show you pictures of key people in the organisation, and explain procedures such as how to handle clients on the phone, or how to claim expenses."

The pressure for replacing the personal touch with the personal computer did not come from previous recruits, Mr Lowe said. Instead, it was the drive for profitability.

"We were looking at cost structures, and training is expensive, costing up to pounds 70 per hour," he said. "We wanted to get the best value from it. There is a cost-saving in doing it this way."

Rather than tying up a senior partner - who might have to use valuable chargeable time on telling a recruit where the photocopier is - the CD- ROM based product will be able to point the way and save the firm thousands of pounds annually.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in