High-performance tech framework attracts global police sector

A workplace performance framework developed in New Zealand using research into the psychological breaking points of elite athletes is attracting interest from police and defence sectors in North America and the UK.

Vantaset, established by performance specialist Craig Steel, has created a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) aimed at improving workplace productivity through methods first engineered for elite athletic performance. Steel's team includes a former All Blacks manager and two Olympians.

The company's approach has prompted contract signings with World Policing in the UK, which provides technical and governance advice to thousands of police forces worldwide, and an international consulting firm that advises government security and law enforcement agencies across Europe and North America, including the FBI.

This move comes after the deployment of the technology in over 100 New Zealand organisations, including the NZ Police. The transformation project within the NZ Police was previously described by international consultants as one of the most successful government sector transformations in history, resulting in heightened staff engagement, greater public trust, and a reported reduction in crime by over 20%.

International interest

Steel says discussions are ongoing with police chiefs and defence experts in North America who have indicated a need to address significant challenges in staff engagement and retention. The Vantaset system, which took seven years and USD $7 million to develop, is now under consideration for pilot trials in these regions.

"They told us this was the most promising process they've seen to address what they describe as a leadership and engagement crisis affecting critical agencies globally, so piloting the process is the logical next step in demonstrating its effectiveness in this environment."

According to Bernard Rix, Chairman of World Policing, Vantaset's proven track record in New Zealand was a key factor in establishing the partnership.

"Given the demonstrable impact Vantaset's technology had on New Zealand Police, we're confident it can be implemented in other law enforcement agencies around the world to help them improve the performance of their respective forces, which is why we've partnered with them."

Origins in sport

Steel's original research focused on 'athlete capitulation' — the psychological moment an athlete fails under pressure. By analysing and reverse-engineering this breakdown, he created a framework responsible for more than 20 World Cup and equivalent titles for New Zealand athletes and allowed personal bests to be delivered on demand in high-pressure environments.

Quantitatively, the framework enabled New Zealand athletes to achieve personal bests 87% of the time at Tier 1 events, compared to the international average of 8-10%.

Steel commented on the wider impact of the approach:

"What began as a system for world-class athletes is now changing the way organisations develop and engage their workforce," says Steel. "We're focused on helping organisations, including the Police, improve the impact and effectiveness of their staff as their personal performance is vital to the nations they represent."

Adapting for organisations

Team members, such as Olympians Moss Burmester and advisor Anthony Moss, are now supporting the transition of high-performance sporting principles into broader workplace environments, including government agencies and corporate boardrooms.

Steel adds that organisations' typical risk-averse cultures can restrict innovation:

"Our work began with high-performance sport. But when we were invited to trial it in business, the results were just as transformative."

He said the platform codifies elite performance in a way that enables consistent support across all organisational levels. "It's about unlocking the potential that already exists in their business as opposed to just trying to mitigate its risks, which crushes innovation.

"In elite sport, the goal is never to avoid failure, it's to produce something exceptional. But in the business world, most performance management systems are built to manage issues when they occur rather than amplifying the organisation's capacity to perform," he says.

Steel describes Vantaset's digital platform as a tool for large-scale adoption of high-performance principles.

"What we've done is build a high-performance operating system that organisations can scale across their entire workforce so they can embed a proven way of working that brings out the best in everyone. The focus isn't on minimising mistakes, it's on helping people be the most effective versions of themselves, as that's what drives growth and improvement."

Over 30,000 employees have used Steel's framework so far. The company is now targeting an expansion into other Five Eyes nations, including the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Strategic distribution

To facilitate international growth, Vantaset is engaging with consulting partners capable of distributing the system into both public and private sectors. Steel said Five Eyes countries were prioritised due to national security and trust considerations.

"We've chosen to focus on the Five Eyes nations because we recognise that when it comes to working with defence forces and critical government agencies, trust and national security considerations are paramount.

"If we were to work with non-aligned or competing jurisdictions, it could close doors to the agencies in the nations we're best positioned to support. This strategic alignment should ensure our eligibility to work with the most sensitive public sector environments, where human performance is most vital."

The Vantaset platform is now being positioned for broader global uptake with ongoing dialogue involving international consulting firms and law enforcement agencies.