Five Minutes with Olly Oliver

Our services don’t stop at delivery, we also offer ongoing support with our Training Team to make sure our customers know how to use our tools effectively.

We checked in with Training Coordination Manager, Olly Oliver to find out more about what his team does at SEA. 

Hi Olly, could you tell us a bit more about what you do? 

As Training Coordination Manager, I oversee all product and project training across SEA. I work with a team of five, each bringing their own specialist skills and experience. I oversee them and make sure everything is delivered to the correct standard. I look after the training work packages, build project schedules and ensure the right resources are available to meet our milestones.  

Every project has its own requirements, so we build our training around what the customer needs. Without comprehensive training, mistakes and errors can happen, sometimes with serious consequences. That’s why providing support beyond delivery is essential.  

How did you become a Training Coordination Manager at SEA? 

I’ve been involved in training my whole career. I joined the Royal Marines at 16, and over the years became a trainee, trainer, chief instructor, and training manager. When I left the service, it felt like a natural progression to stay in this line of work. 

I spent seven years working abroad and then contracted for a range of defence companies in the training world. When SEA contacted me about an opportunity and later came up for the interview, I was impressed with the people and the direction the business was heading. The flexible working arrangements also made a difference, I’m an hour and a half away from my closest site, so it isn’t practical to be on site every day.  

How does working in the defence sector shape the way training is designed and delivered compared to other industries? 

Defence training is very different to commercial sectors. The defence training we provide is critical to safety and operational capability. If you don’t get the training right, it can lead to mistakes, equipment failure, or injuries and a loss of confidence in the product. Accuracy, structure, and compliance are therefore essential.  

Working with The Ministry of Defence, we use the Defence Systems Approach to training. This is a rigorous and non‑negotiable process. For international customers, we use the same principles but with greater flexibility as every customer has different requirements: cultural considerations, language differences, and even variations in the working week all play a part in designing effective, relevant training.  

How do you see the role of training teams evolving over the next few years? 

Technology is moving fast: AI, microlearning and gamified platforms are already becoming part defence training. The future, I believe, will consist of blended learning: part human‑delivered, part immersive, scenario‑driven experiences that help people make and reflect on decisions. You’ll never fully replace having someone stand in front of a learner, you’ll always need a subject matter expert at some point. 

What advice would you give others interested in training? 

This is a great time to enter the field, especially with technology evolving so rapidly, but the basics still matter. You’ll always need things like strong analytical skills, clear communication, and the ability to break complex tasks down into teachable steps. You’ve also got to manage expectations; people often underestimate how long high-quality training takes to design. Above all, stay curious and keep up with new technology because things are changing fast and trainers who adapt will thrive. 

Thank you, Olly.  

Want to find out more about what we do? Have a look here.