Employee onboarding videos in the UK cost £800–£8,000 per module depending on length, animation, and LMS integration. A well-structured modular library cuts average time-to-competency by 45% and reduces HR delivery costs by more than a third compared with live induction sessions.
What Is a Modular Onboarding Video Programme?
A modular onboarding programme breaks new-starter content into standalone five-to-twelve-minute videos — each covering one discrete topic: company values, IT setup, health and safety basics, role-specific process, and so on. Learners complete modules in a defined sequence on your LMS, and managers track completion in real time. According to LinkedIn's 2024 Workplace Learning Report, organisations with strong onboarding programmes improve new-hire retention by 82% and productivity by over 70%. Modular video is the format that makes scale possible without multiplying trainer hours.
A typical first-year library contains eight to fifteen modules. MKTRL Production builds each one as a self-contained asset: scripted, shot, edited, and exported in the formats your LMS requires — no extra conversion work on your side.
LMS Delivery & Technical Specifications
Every module we produce is exported to the SCORM 1.2 or SCORM 2004 standard as a default, with xAPI (Tin Can) available on request for organisations using modern LRS platforms such as Learning Locker or WATERSHEDLRS. Standard delivery specs:
- MP4 H.264 master at 1080p 25fps for streaming
- SCORM package (.zip) with embedded player and completion triggers
- Closed-caption SRT file (UK English, quality-checked against script)
- Thumbnail image set (16:9 and 1:1) for LMS catalogue tiles
- Accessibility report confirming WCAG 2.1 AA colour-contrast compliance
We test every SCORM package on Moodle, Cornerstone OnDemand, TalentLMS, and Docebo before handover. If your platform is not on that list, we request a sandbox login two weeks before delivery and run a compatibility check at no extra charge. Research by Brandon Hall Group found that SCORM-packaged video modules achieve a 94% average completion rate versus 67% for unpackaged video links — the structured wrapper keeps learners accountable.
Production Workflow: From Brief to Go-Live
- Discovery call (Week 1): We map your onboarding journey, identify the eight to fifteen topics, agree on tone, and review existing brand guidelines.
- Script and storyboard (Weeks 1–2): Our writers draft each module script (approx. 700–900 words per five-minute module). You review and approve before any camera moves.
- Shoot or record (Week 3): Live-action modules filmed at your premises or our Birmingham studio. Screen-capture or animation modules recorded remotely.
- Post-production (Weeks 3–5): Edit, grade, motion graphics, voiceover, music, and captions.
- LMS packaging and QA (Week 5–6): SCORM wrapping, completion-trigger testing, accessibility check.
- Handover and upload support (Week 6): We upload directly to your LMS and confirm all completion data is flowing correctly.
Total lead time for an eight-module library is typically six to eight weeks from signed brief to live LMS. Rush turnarounds (four weeks) are available at a 20% premium.
Pricing Tiers
Prices below are per module (five to eight minutes finished runtime) and exclude VAT. Volume discounts apply from module five onwards.
| Tier | Format | Per Module | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | Talking-head + screen capture, light graphics | £800–£1,400 | SMEs, rapid rollout, 50–200 staff |
| Standard | Multi-camera live action, branded motion graphics, pro VO | £1,500–£3,200 | Mid-market, 200–1,000 staff, multiple departments |
| Premium | 2D/3D animation or cinematic location shoot, actor talent | £3,500–£6,000 | Enterprise, regulated sectors, global rollout |
| Bespoke | Interactive branching, avatar presenter, multilingual dub | £6,000–£8,000+ | Pharma, finance, multinational with compliance overlay |
A full eight-module Essential library therefore starts at approximately £6,400 all-in. A Standard ten-module programme lands between £15,000 and £32,000. Most clients in the 200–500 headcount range budget £18,000–£25,000 for their initial library. The CIPD 2023 Learning at Work survey found UK organisations spend an average of £1,530 per employee on induction annually — a one-time video library typically pays back within twelve months.
Refresh Cadence: When to Update Your Modules
Onboarding content has a shorter shelf life than many L&D teams expect. Industry guidance suggests a full review every twelve to eighteen months, with ad-hoc updates triggered by:
- Policy or regulatory changes (GDPR procedures, right-to-work checks)
- Product or service updates that appear in role-specific modules
- Brand refresh — new logo, colour palette, or presenter change
- Post-completion survey scores dropping below 80% satisfaction
- Significant headcount growth that warrants department-specific variants
MKTRL Production offers an annual refresh retainer: £300–£600 per module per year covers one round of script edits, re-recording of changed sections, and a re-packaged SCORM file. Clients on retainer receive priority scheduling and a 15% discount on any new modules added to the library.
Onboarding Video Commissioning Checklist
- Map the full onboarding journey before briefing — list every topic a new starter must cover in weeks one, two, and four
- Confirm your LMS platform and SCORM version before production begins
- Assign one internal subject-matter expert per module for script sign-off
- Collect existing brand assets: logo files, brand guidelines, approved presenter talent if relevant
- Book filming location (office or studio) at least three weeks ahead
- Agree on accessibility requirements: captions, audio description, language variants
- Set a completion-tracking KPI before go-live so you can measure ROI from day one
How to Choose the Right Production Partner
Not every video agency understands LMS delivery. Ask any prospective partner to demonstrate a live SCORM package on your platform before you sign. Check their portfolio for corporate training work specifically — narrative TV production skills do not automatically transfer to instructional design. Look for evidence of collaboration with an instructional designer on the script phase; this single factor predicts module effectiveness more than any production value metric. MKTRL Production works with certified instructional designers on every corporate commission, ensuring content structure matches adult-learning principles before a camera is switched on.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long should each onboarding video module be?
- Five to eight minutes per module is the evidence-based sweet spot. Research by TechSmith found learner attention drops sharply after nine minutes for training content. Splitting a forty-minute induction into six focused modules increases completion rates by an average of 34%.
- Can we film at our own offices?
- Yes, and most clients prefer it — familiar environments reinforce authenticity. We carry out a location recce beforehand to assess lighting, acoustics, and background options. Offices with open-plan noise may require an early-morning or weekend shoot.
- What if our LMS only supports MP4, not SCORM?
- We deliver an MP4 master as standard regardless of SCORM requirements. Completion tracking without SCORM is handled via your LMS's native video-progress API or a manual completion confirmation step — we advise on the best approach for your platform.
- Do you provide voiceover talent?
- Yes. We work with a roster of UK-based professional voiceover artists covering a range of accents and registers. Voiceover is included in Standard and above tiers. Essential tier clients can supply their own recorded audio or add VO at £150–£250 per module.
- How many revision rounds are included?
- Two rounds of amends are included at script stage and one round of amends at edit stage. Additional revision rounds are charged at £95 per hour. Most projects complete within the included rounds when script approval is thorough.
- Can modules be updated individually without re-doing the whole library?
- Yes — modular production is designed precisely for this. Each module is an independent project file. A single-module refresh typically costs 30–40% of the original production cost depending on the extent of changes.
- Do you offer multilingual versions?
- We produce UK English as standard. Multilingual dubs (translated script, native voiceover, re-exported SCORM) are available at £400–£900 per module per language. On-screen text localisation is charged separately.
- What accessibility standards do your videos meet?
- All productions include closed captions by default. We test colour contrast to WCAG 2.1 AA and can supply audio description tracks on request. Accessibility reports are provided with every SCORM package for your compliance records.