We’re so glad you’re here.
At Northern Spark, we believe that learning should be inspiring, empowering, and deeply human. Whether you’re an organization looking to elevate your team or an individual seeking growth, you’ve found a place where innovation meets intention.
We invite you to explore our mission, discover the principles that guide our work, and learn about the promise we make to every customer:
To deliver training experiences that spark curiosity, build capability, and create real, lasting change.
Thanks for stopping by—we’re honored to be part of your journey.
MISSION
At Northern Spark Training Solutions, our mission is to ignite sustainable economic growth in the Bangor region by empowering organizations and individuals with transformative, people-centered training. We are committed to improving working conditions, cultivating engaged and capable employees, and building resilient, thriving workplaces that benefit both the local economy and the communities it supports.
PROMISE
At Northern Spark Training Solutions, we promise to deliver learning experiences that matter—designed with care, rooted in purpose, and tailored to your goals.
When you work with us, you’re not just getting a training provider—you’re gaining a trusted partner in transformation.
PRINCIPLES
Gamify with Purpose
We believe that motivation thrives in meaningful progress. By using thoughtful, research-based gamification, we transform everyday work into an engaging journey—where recognition, rewards, and challenges drive real growth.
Educate and Advocate
Knowledge is power—but applied knowledge is transformational. We equip individuals and teams with relevant, accessible learning experiences that build confidence, competence, and long-term capability.
Thrive Together
True success is never a solo achievement. We foster environments where communication, trust, and teamwork are central—because when people work together with purpose, organizations and communities flourish.
A Non-Exploitive Work Model
A non-exploitative work model generally refers to an approach where:
Decision-making and control are more democratic or participatory—often seen in worker cooperatives or self-managed teams.
Distribution of economic benefits is more equitable, typically involving profit sharing, employee ownership, or flatter wage structures.
Work-life balance and well-being are prioritized, sometimes through policies like flexible working hours or reduced work weeks.
Empowerment and autonomy are central, with workers given greater input into how tasks and responsibilities are organized.
These characteristics stand in contrast to traditional, top-down organizational models where decision-making is centralized and workers’ contributions may be undervalued economically.
S.P.A.R.K. Model of Engagement
Social Connection
Healthy systems foster inclusion, collaboration, and psychological safety.
Exploitative signals: Isolation, silencing of voices, toxic competition, or cultures of fear and manipulation.
SPARK Insight: Analyze team dynamics, feedback loops, and representation to identify who is being excluded or devalued.
Purpose & Impact
-
Healthy systems connect individual work to meaningful outcomes and shared goals.
-
Exploitative signals: Workers are disconnected from the value they create or are asked to contribute to causes they don’t believe in.
-
SPARK Insight: Assess whether employees feel their work matters—and whether the impact benefits more than just shareholders or top leadership.
Achievement & Mastery
Healthy systems recognize and reward progress, growth, and learning.
Exploitative signals: Constant pressure without acknowledgment, gatekeeping of promotions, or using fear of failure as a motivator.
SPARK Insight: Audit recognition systems, professional development opportunities, and barriers to advancement to uncover systemic inequity or control mechanisms.
Risk & Challenge
Healthy systems offer opportunities for calculated risk-taking and creativity in a safe space.
Exploitative signals: Unsafe workloads, high stakes without support, or innovation punished by bureaucracy.
SPARK Insight: Examine how much agency employees have to stretch, fail, or innovate—versus how much risk is simply imposed upon them without their consent or compensation.
Knowledge & Growth
Healthy systems provide access to learning, mentorship, and intellectual stimulation.
Exploitative signals: Information hoarding, exclusion from strategic conversations, or lack of investment in employee development.
SPARK Insight: Look at who has access to learning and strategic knowledge—and who doesn’t—and whether learning is used as a tool for empowerment or control.
Get Started with Your
Level 1 SPARK Assessment
You’re about to take the Level 1 SPARK Assessment.
This a 10-minute self-assessment designed to give you a high-level snapshot of your organization’s current engagement health across the five SPARK pillars.
- Register to access the quiz.
- Provide some basic organizational information to help us contact you about your results.
- Complete the 10-minute quiz. Receive your personalized engagement map and recommendations.
Please Note: The Level 1 SPARK Assessment is a preliminary snapshot—not a full diagnostic tool. It offers valuable insights and recommendations but is intended as a starting point. By registering and submitting your information, you agree to allow Northern Spark Training Solutions to contact you with your results, additional resources, and potential next steps for deeper engagement support.