01 April 2024         Blogs

Waterborne diseases pose a significant threat to public health, and among them, Legionnaires’ Disease is a serious and potentially fatal illness. Legionella, the bacteria responsible for causing a potentially severe form of respiratory infection can thrive in various water systems. Therefore, all organisations need to be sure that they meet the relevant HSE guidelines to effectively manage the risks.

Legionella bacteria are found in warm water environments such as cooling towers, hot tubs, and plumbing systems and will multiply when temperatures are between 25° and 45°C. When contaminated water droplets are inhaled, individuals can contract Legionnaires’ disease, leading to pneumonia-like symptoms. To effectively manage Legionella, it’s crucial to first understand its habits and potential breeding grounds.

If you are an employer, self-employed or someone in control of premises, it is important that you understand and mitigate the risks associated with Legionella. You are principally responsible for the health and safety of anyone affected (unless otherwise agreed through a contractual arrangement for legionella) and should take the necessary precautions to reduce the chances of exposure to the disease.

Here are some ways that you can do that:

Identify Environments At-Risk of Legionella

Legionella thrives in stagnant or warm water, making cooling towers, spa pools and hot water systems common breeding grounds. Additionally, places like hospitals and long-term care facilities, where individuals may have compromised immune systems, are at higher risk. Identifying and regularly monitoring these environments is crucial in preventing Legionella outbreaks.

Temperature Control

The primary method used to manage Legionella is to operate water services at temperatures inhospitable for the bacteria. Hot water cylinders should therefore store water at 60°C minimum, and distribute at no less than 50°C within one minute. Cold water should be stored at less than 20°C and distributed at less than 20°C within two minutes.

However, a recent update to Part L of Building Regulations (Conservation & Power) now emphasises that for newly installed or refurbed heating systems, heating system flow temperatures should not exceed 55°C, and ideally, they should be kept below this threshold.

While this change brings about several advantages in terms of energy efficiency and environmental impact, it also introduces a new consideration for those that manage secondary hot water systems heated by them — the increased risk of Legionella bacteria formation in hot water systems due to decreased hot water flow, return and distribution temperatures.

You can find out more about these changes here.

Routine Checks

A routine inspection and clean is an obvious, but important part of preventing Legionella. If necessary, periodic water samples should be analysed. How often depends on the system and the outcome of any risk assessment. Further guidance can be found here on the HSE’s website.

Flush the Pipes

Legionella can multiply in hot and cold water systems. Stagnant water attracts Legionella growth, so ensuring all dead ends are removed and all outlets are flushed out at least weekly, will help to reduce the risk.

System Design

When designing hot and cold water systems, pre-empt the risks of Legionella by keeping pipe-work as short as possible, include adequate insulation and minimise heat gain/thermal transfer from pipes. Contamination should also be prevented i.e. tanks to be fit with lids, insect screens where pipes are open to the environment and control the risks of backflow
For a more in-depth overview, please visit the HSE website: https://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/legionella.htm

In conclusion

As a business, the best way to ensure you are fulfilling your duties and managing the risk effectively is to ensure people responsible for managing systems and implementing controls are appropriately trained and receive regular refresher training.

Develop Training offer a number of Legionella courses including,

Legionella & ACOP L8 Awareness

Legionella: Role of the Responsible Person / Duty Holder / Landlord

Management of Legionella Bacteria in Hot & Cold Water Systems

Legionella Risk Assessment of Hot & Cold Water Systems

To view the full list of available Water Systems & Legionella training offered by Develop, click here: https://www.developtraining.co.uk/training/estates-and-facilities-management/water-systems-legionella/

 

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Contact us

If you have any questions or are unsure which training course is right for you, please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 876 6708 or email enquiries@developtraining.co.uk

   01 March 2024         Blogs

Legionella continues to dominate the news and every year hundreds of cases of Legionnaires’ Disease are reported in the UK alone. The World Health Organization reports that “the death rate may be as high as 40–80% in untreated immuno-suppressed patients [but] can be reduced to 5–30% through appropriate case management and depending on the severity of the clinical signs and symptoms. Overall the death rate is usually within the range of 5–10%.”

A recent outbreak at a plastics manufacturing company in West Bromwich resulted in five members of the public becoming infected with Legionnaire’s Disease after Legionella bacteria grew in their water cooling towers and pipes. One of the five people infected was taken to intensive care and put on a ventilator after being infected – highlighting just how serious the disease can be. The company were subsequently investigated by the HSE and fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £11,000 in costs. Further information on the news story can be found here.

What is the fine for legionella in the UK?

Due to outbreaks such as these, The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is extremely active, and regularly goes ahead with criminal prosecutions against those failing to adhere to the law. Sanctions and prosecutions vary but will occur if the law isn’t adhered to, and in extreme cases can even result in imprisonment.

One of the largest fines of £1.8m was given to G4S Cash Solutions (UK) after they failed to maintain their water systems in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, and ACOP L8, the Health and Safety Executive’s approved code on the control of Legionella in water systems.

What are the symptoms of Legionnaire’s Disease?

The early symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are similar to those of the common flu and include muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever. Some make a full recovery but there is increasing evidence that long term symptoms for many will include breathlessness, fatigue and impact on the neurological and neuromuscular system.

Does my business need to be concerned about legionella?

Legionella can be found in any premises/water system. Along with potentially fatal consequences, a Legionella outbreak can have serious legal and financial implications for an organisation/individual. It is recommended that anyone responsible for a facility or maintaining a water system has an awareness of legionella at the very least.

Some industries/water systems may be more at risk, such as:

• Healthcare settings i.e. Hospitals, nursing and care homes
• Evaporative cooling systems
• Spa pool systems
• Older, larger and complex hot and cold water systems
• Industrial and manufacturing water systems

Building and business owners and managers are responsible for their work premises under;

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (sections 2, 3, 4)
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (Regulations 6,7,8,9 &12)
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

It is their principal legal responsibility to uphold a duty of care, ensuring the safety of your business, properties, and water systems by guarding against potential legionella growth and disseminating/inhalation of water aerosols.

The Health and Safety Executive’s Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) L8 serves as a crucial guideline for preventing and controlling legionellosis in water systems. This document holds a unique legal status, making employers susceptible to prosecution, fines, or even imprisonment if it is demonstrated that the relevant provisions of the Code were not adhered to.

Legionella Awareness training in-line with ACoP L8

Develop Training provides a range of Legionella awareness and more advanced training courses to reduce the risks associated with Legionella bacteria and support compliance with the L8 Approved Code of Practice (ACoP).

Our Legionella and ACoP L8 Awareness course covers a background on legionella and the risks it offers, introduces water systems, legal requirements and controls including risk assessment, management pathways, ACOP L8/HSG274 and monitoring / maintenance duties for hot and cold water systems.

An awareness of Legionella (as a minimum) is needed for those who implement and monitor precautions such as little used outlet flushing and temperature monitoring. The more informed your workforce is on the dangers associated with legionella bacteria and the conditions under which they thrive, the more competent individuals will be in taking preventative action and recognising warning signs.

To view the full list of available Water Systems & Legionella training offered by Develop, click here: https://www.developtraining.co.uk/training/estates-and-facilities-management/water-systems-legionella/

Contact us

If you have any questions or are unsure which training course is right for you, please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 876 6708 or email enquiries@developtraining.co.uk

   28 February 2024         Blogs

In the world of education and compliance, there exists a silent hero, quietly ensuring that the wheels of knowledge keep turning smoothly. His name? Graham Long, a Quality Assurance Auditor at Develop Training. With a twinkle in his eye and a passion for precision, Graham is the backbone of our Quality Assurance and Audit Team, dedicated to ensuring Develop stays compliant with legislation, keeps pace with awarding body changes, and ensuring that the business continues to deliver high-quality learning experiences to our delegates.

But there’s more to Graham’s role than meets the eye. Beyond the confines of Develop, he serves as an external consultant, a wizard of compliance, working tirelessly on two significant external quality assurance projects with Develop’s sister company, CompEx, and Network Plus.

A week in the life of a Quality Assurance Auditor

Picture an average week in Graham’s life – a dynamic mix of assurance activities. On some days he can be found meticulously monitoring courses, both within Develop and externally, to ensure that they are executed flawlessly. On others, crucially, he checks that paperwork is filled out correctly and every exam meticulously marked, maintaining the highest standards for accreditation.

As Develop’s Operational Training Managers collaborate with Graham to develop new courses, he ensures these courses align with the exacting requirements of awarding bodies. And when those awarding bodies decide to update their courses, Graham is on the frontline, ready to adapt and refine our offerings.

But what makes Graham Long the go-to guy for all things quality and compliance at Develop?

It’s not just his passion and dedication; it’s his impressive arsenal of qualifications. He boasts a range of certifications, including AET, IQA, Auditor Qualification, Compex – EXF+, 18TH Edition, Water Jetter, First Aider, Mental Health First Aider, Safeguarding and Prevent trainer, Engineering Quali, NEBOSH, and Streetworks supervisor. He’s a one-man army of expertise!

An impressive career journey

Graham’s journey to becoming Develop’s Quality Assurance Auditor aficionado is equally impressive. He kick-started his career as a Mechanical Apprentice at Anglian Water, and over 21 years, he honed his skills as an Operational Mechanical Engineer in both Wastewater and Drinking Water divisions.

His next step was as a Trainer Assessor in their training unit, which later became Develop Training. After stints in the delivery team and as a dedicated IQA lead, Graham found his true calling in the Internal Quality Assurance & Audit team when it was established two years ago.

A moment to be proud of

Among his many accomplishments, Graham’s proudest moment arrived in 2022. The Quality Assurance and Audit team clinched the coveted ‘Team of the Year’ award at the Develop Employee Conference. Achieving this accolade within just nine months of the team’s formation was a testament to Gary Fisher’s leadership and the entire team’s unwavering commitment to excellence. It also shows the respect that the wider business have for the team and the work they do.

Outside of work

Beyond his professional achievements, here’s a delightful tidbit about Graham: In 2005, he received a royal invitation to attend the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace!

As Graham continues to play an integral role in maintaining quality and compliance at Develop Training, delegates and their employers can rest assured that our courses will always be delivered with precision, passion, and the IQA seal of approval.

To find out more about Develop’s Internal Quality Assurance & Audit Team, visit our dedicated webpage here.

   22 February 2024         Blogs

In order to become a qualified F-Gas engineer you need to complete a training course and obtain a qualification that is certified by an awarding body. Once you have completed a relevant F Gas training course, you will then be able to become F-Gas certified with The F-Gas Register.

However, once you have successfully gained your F-gas qualification you may be wondering, what next?

This blog post takes a brief look at the job roles available to qualified f-gas engineers as well as the qualifications that you can progress on to.

We’ve also created a handy download for you to take away with you.

What is an F-Gas Engineer?

An F Gas engineer is an individual who has obtained F Gas certification, allowing them to legally engage in the servicing of appliances that utilise associated refrigerants. This includes systems such as air conditioning, refrigeration units, and heat pumps.

What kind of job titles might a qualified F-Gas Engineer have?

• Refrigeration Engineer
• HVAC Engineer
• Authorising Engineer
• Air Conditioning Engineer
• Heat Pump Engineer
• Maintenance Engineer
• Maintenance Technician

What is an F Gas qualification?

If you want to work in the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and/or Heat Pump Industry, installing, servicing and leak checking systems the City & Guilds Award in F-Gas and ODS Regulations: Category I – Leak checking, recovery, installation, service, maintenance of equipment qualification is the legal minimum requirement.

Suitable for new entrants to the industry or those with no previous training, Category 1 f – gas means you are able to carry out any of the controlled activity on any size system.

There are, however, a number of different F-Gas qualification levels. These are as follows:

• F-Gas Category 1 covers the installation, service, maintenance, recovery and leakage checking of stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment with a charge more than 3kg or 6kg (if hermetically sealed).
• F-Gas Category 2 covers equipment with a charge of less than 3kg (6kg if hermetically sealed).
• F-Gas Category 3 covers refrigerant recovery from stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment.
• F-Gas Category 4 covers leak checking of stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment.

Further information about F Gas qualifications and the relevant regulations can be found here: https://www.developtraining.co.uk/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-f-gas-regulations-517-2014/

F Gas Engineer Career Progression

Once you have successfully completed our F-Gas Cat 1 training course, there are a number of paths you can take in terms of upskilling and future proofing your career and skillset.

It’s not always easy to know what is needed for each route, which is why Develop’s F-Gas expert, Brandon Clark, has put together a pathway of all the different routes you can take and what you need to reach them.

Download the pathway here.

 

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Get in touch

If you have any questions about F-Gas training, or our F-Gas Category 1 training course, then please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 876 6708 or email enquiries@developtraining.co.uk

   19 February 2024         Blogs

In this month’s instalment of our ‘Meet the Team’ series, we’re featuring Ian Hanmore, one of our Street Works Trainers.

Ian’s journey into training took a unique and unconventional path compared to many of his colleagues. From 1990 to 1998, he served as a Psychiatric Nurse for the NHS, focusing on individuals facing challenges such as deafness, blindness, profound disabilities, or learning disabilities. Later, he transitioned to a forensic secure unit, working with individuals dealing with personality disorders, contributing eight commendable years to the NHS by providing crucial support to those in need.

Entrepreneurial spirit

After his dedicated service with the NHS, Ian embarked on a new venture by establishing his own performance food company, Tramore Performance Foods (TPF). During the early 2000s, the trend of isotonic food and drinks gained prominence, particularly in the sporting community, and recognising an opportunity in the market, Ian brought to market a low-calorie, vitamin-enhanced sorbet. Over the course of three years, Ian collaborated with Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Dalton Grant and his innovative product not only gained popularity in the UK but also reached international shores, including Australia!

Returning to his roots

Ian’s journey into the realm of street works began in 1986, predating his nursing career. In 2003, he made a deliberate decision to reconnect with his roots and return to the highways. Progressing through various roles, he accumulated a wealth of experience, including roles as a tarmac re-surfacer to eventually overseeing quality assurance for the work carried out by his colleagues. His most recent responsibility involved managing a substantial 40-kilometre stretch of the A13, where he held authority over streetlights, footpaths, and overall road management.

Transition into training

So, with an impressive (and diverse!) career spanning over 25 years, what prompted Ian to transition into the field of training? The catalyst occurred in 2023 when Ian received an email from a recruitment company, inquiring about his interest in a street works training role.

Drawing from his 27 years of experience teaching judo and jujitsu for the World Elite Black Belt Society, Ian saw this as a prime opportunity to leverage his expertise in both street works and teaching.

Upon joining Develop, he entered into the organisation’s Emerge and Evolve programme, a ‘train the trainer’ style programme specifically aimed at upskilling those from industry into the highest quality trainers by supporting them as they gain formal teaching qualifications.

A hit with streetworks delegates

Ian has been a valuable member of the Develop team for 15 months now, garnering exceptional feedback during his time with the organisation.

A delegate who recently attended a streetworks course deliver by him declared, “I believe the training provided went above and beyond the normal material, enabling me to gain a deeper understanding of the rules and regulations, as well as the practical aspects that I can apply in my everyday work on site.”

Another delegate praised Ian stating, “[The] Trainer [Ian Hanmore] was very informative and helpful, explained everything really well, and was easy to understand. Nice, friendly, and a very knowledgeable person.”

Fantastic feedback!

Leisure time

Outside of work, Ian finds enjoyment in working out at the gym and honing his skills in martial arts.

 

To find out more about the streetworks courses that Ian delivers please click here: https://www.developtraining.co.uk/training/utilities/street-works/

   19 February 2024         Blogs

In 2011 it became required by law that anyone working on the English Highways completed New Roads and Street Works (NRSWA) training. Whether involved in excavations, reinstatement, or requiring a barrier for activities like tree cutting or working on a distribution board, it is essential to undergo NRSWA streetworks training.

It’s important that you find and select the right training for your role, so that you can legally demonstrate your competence to carry out a particular streetworks roles. This is why Develop have created a flowchart to help you work out which training course you require to safely & competently carry out specific aspects of street works. You can download our street works flowchart here.

I work on the roads, what training do I need?

The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) requires that, for any work done on a road or pathway (non-motorway), there needs to be at least one qualified Operative and one qualified Supervisor. These must be two separate people.

In order for operatives and supervisors to work legally on the highways, they must register with the Streetworks Qualification Register (SWQR) . To do so they need to hold the up to date Streetworks qualification.

When the individual has successfully completed their training and assessment (s) the Training Provider will notify the Awarding Body who will then issue certificates for the units or qualifications they have successfully completed.

Once the certificates are issued, the Training Provider will apply on the individuals’ behalf to the Street Works Qualifications Register (SWQR) for their ID Card.

To keep qualifications and NRSWA cards (tickets) up to date individuals must be reassessed every five years to show that they are professionally competent to work on English highways.

Develop Training offer a number of NRSWA training courses including, those for Operatives, Supervisors, Inspectors & Auditors, as well as re-assessment training.

View the full range here: https://www.developtraining.co.uk/training/utilities/street-works/

To help you better understand the courses available and the training offered by Develop, our in-house streetworks expert, Ben Blessett, has put together a handy pdf download.

Click here to download.

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Streetworks training courses

Develop offers the following street works courses at our 8 UK-wide training centres in Derby, York, Swindon, Manchester, Essex, Norwich, Birmingham and Linlithgow, Scotland. Click the links to find out more and reserve a space on a course. For further information please call 0800 876 6708.

NRSWA Location and Avoidance of Underground Apparatus (NRSWA LA)

NRSWA Signing, Lighting and Guarding (NRSWA O1/S1)

NRSWA Excavation in the Highway (NRSWA LA+O1O2/S1S2)

NRSWA Reinstatement of the Highway (NRSWA Ops/Sups)

NRSWA Reassessment LA+O1,O2/S1,S2 (NRSWA R1)

NRSWA Reassessment O3-O8/S3-S7 (NRSWA R2)

NRSWA Street (Road) Works: Safety, Quality and Compliance (NRSWA INS)

   12 February 2024         Blogs

As an employer, a self-employed person, or person in control of a premises (in connection with water systems), prioritising the health and safety of your employees, non-employees and tenants is of paramount importance. One potential threat that demands your attention is Legionnaire’s Disease. Understanding and mitigating the risks associated with this bacterial infection is crucial to ensuring a safe environment for everyone.

1. A brief history of Legionnaire’s Disease

Legionnaire’s Disease, named after an outbreak in Philadelphia in 1976 that affected members of the American Legion, is a relatively recent discovery. The bacteria responsible for the disease, Legionella, was transmitted through an air conditioning unit, resulting in 221 reported cases and the death of 34 people.

2. Where can legionella bacteria be found?

Legionella bacteria naturally exists in water and moist soil, with warm and stagnant water providing an ideal breeding ground. Identifying and addressing these conditions is essential to minimising the risks associated with Legionnaire’s Disease.

3. Legionnaire’s Disease:

Legionnaires’ Disease, caused by Legionella bacteria, can be fatal in 5-10% of cases, especially if not diagnosed early. In 2020 (January to October) the UK saw 295 cases (but this number was around 500 cases for the two proceeding years) making awareness and preventative measures crucial.

4. Effects and symptoms of Legionnaire’s Disease

The disease is characterised as acute bacterial pneumonia, with symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, fever, and aches. Diagnosing Legionnaire’s Disease can be challenging due to its similarity to other forms of pneumonia.

5. How is it contracted?

Inhalation of water droplets in the air (an aerosol) contaminated with Legionella bacteria is the primary mode of transmission. Certain individuals, including those over 50, smokers, and those with respiratory diseases, are at a higher risk.

6. Transmission:

While the disease cannot be transmitted between people, cases generally peak in the summer and autumn months, due to the increased temperatures at those times of year.

7. Legionnaire’s outbreaks:

Though fairly uncommon, outbreaks in large buildings or estates with complex water systems, such as hotels and hospitals, can be dangerous. In mid-2023 two Scottish hospitals were reported to have traces of Legionella bacteria during routine checks in the radiotherapy unit and water supply. These cases highlight the importance of regular Legionella testing, especially in places such as hospitals and care homes where people may be more susceptible to infection and serious illness.

Outbreaks in large buildings are also particularly dangerous because the symptoms are often delayed and commonly misdiagnosed, which can lead to a larger number of fatalities.

8. Treatment of Legionnaire’s:

Early diagnosis allows for prompt treatment with antibiotics, resulting in successful recovery for most individuals. However, some may experience long-term effects such as breathlessness and fatigue.

9. Why should businesses be careful?

Any water system has the potential to harbour the bacteria. Cooling towers, spa pools and showers are most commonly linked to outbreaks, because of the high volumes of breathable droplets they produce. Higher risk systems commonly include:

• Evaporative cooling systems
• Spa pools
• Large, older and complex hot and cold water systems
• Recirculating vehicle wash systems
• Manufacturing water systems such as wet paint spray booths

Some outbreaks have even been attributed to public fountains, air conditioning systems and even the misters found in supermarkets.

Mitigating the risk of a possible outbreak of Legionnaire’s is your responsibility as a business owner/person with high level authority/manager. Vigilance is required to prevent dangerous outbreaks, otherwise the penalty for not doing so can stretch from fines to imprisonment.

An employer’s duties to control legionella in the workplace are set out in:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA)
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR)
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)
• The Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condenser and Evaporative Condenser Regulations 1992 (NCTEC)

According to the duties listed under the HSWA, the key obligations of an employer to reduce the risk of exposure to Legionella on their premises include having to:

• Monitor their water temperature at regular intervals
• Flush little used outlets to remove biofilm from the system
• Record results of Legionella testing and retain them for at least five years

10. Prevention:

Businesses must take proactive steps to prevent Legionnaire’s Disease, including regular water system maintenance, temperature control, chemical treatment, and minimising the escape of water droplets. Employing contractors for water treatment and ensuring staff are well-trained are essential components of an effective prevention strategy.

Whilst all involved in working on and managing water systems have responsibilities (and this includes contractors and sub-contractors), the principal responsibility is the Duty Holder’s. More information on responsibilities is available through the HSE.

Ultimately, the best way to ensure your business is fulfilling its duties and managing the risk effectively is to start the journey (or refresh your knowledge) with training/refresher training.

Develop Training offer a number of Legionella courses including,

• Legionella & ACOP L8 Awareness
• Legionella: Role of the Responsible Person / Duty Holder / Landlord
• Management of Legionella Bacteria in Hot & Cold Water Systems
• Legionella Risk Assessment of Hot & Cold Water Systems

To view the full list of available Water Systems & Legionella training offered by Develop, click here: https://www.developtraining.co.uk/training/estates-and-facilities-management/water-systems-legionella/

Legionnaire’s Disease poses a real threat, but with awareness, responsible management, and proactive prevention measures, you can create a safer environment for your tenants, employees, non-employees and customers. Stay informed, take action, and prioritise the well-being of those under your care.

Contact us

If you have any questions or are unsure which training course is right for you, please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 876 6708 or email enquiries@developtraining.co.uk

   12 February 2024     News

We’re pleased to introduce Develop’s Waste Water Trainer, Danny Connor, a seasoned professional with nearly three decades of experience in the water and drainage industry.

Before Danny took on the role of lead waste water and water jetting trainer at Develop, he spent close to 30 years as a jetting engineer and CCTV drainage engineer. His professional endeavors took him across the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle East, where he gained hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the nuances of the water and drainage industry. 

What sets Danny apart as a trainer is his hands-on experience ‘in the trenches.’ Delegates quickly realise that their instructor has walked the same path they are on, creating a unique bond of understanding and respect. This connection fosters an environment where theoretical knowledge seamlessly merges with real-world application, providing a comprehensive and transformative learning experience.

Danny explains,

When delegates realise that I’ve walked the same path and have hands-on experience ‘in the trenches’ so to speak, it garners respect for my expertise because they know I’ve actually practiced what I’m preaching.

Whilst Develop primarily specialise in waste water and high pressure water jetting training for the drainage industry, the organisation also serves surprising sectors. For instance, one clients requires water jetting training for a rather unexpected purpose – cleaning critical parts of submarines! It is really amazing how this ‘hidden job’ intersects such a wide variety of industries.

Waste Water & High Pressure Water Jetting training delivered by Develop Training

Develop Training is one of the UK’s leading accredited providers of compliance, technical, and safety training. We train more than 30,000 professionals each year and our customers include some of the UK’s largest and best-known organisations from the utilities and construction, defence, healthcare, facilities management, and telecommunication sectors.

Develop Training offer the following water jetting and sewer maintenance training courses:

• Water Jetting Safety Awareness and Drain & Sewer Cleaning
• Water Jetting Safety Awareness – Refresher
• Pipe Sewer Condition Conversion to MSCC5
• Water Jetting Pressure Washer
• Utility SHEA – Drains and Sewers
• Pipe Sewer Condition Classification to MSCC5
• Pipe Sewer Condition Classification to MSCC5 – Refresher
• Brick Sewer Condition Classification to MSCC5
• Pipe Sewer Classification to HADDMS CD535 & CS551
• CCTV Inspection – Drain & Sewer Practical Camera Inspections

All of the high pressure water jetting courses offered by Develop Training are certificated  by the Water Jetting Association (WJA), run in accordance with their Code of Practice and fully accredited by City & Guilds. Many of the other drainage and sewerage courses are endorsed by Energy & Utility Skills.

Many of the course can be run as blended learning programmes, or via Virtual Classroom.

Our water jetting equipment is mobile, meaning the training can be delivered at a location of your choosing. To find out more, click here: https://www.developtraining.co.uk/water-jetting/

To find out more, please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 876 6708 or email enquiries@developtraining.co.uk

   05 February 2024         Blogs

Authorised Person courses can help those operating in a Competent Person role to elevate their career to the next level. The qualification can also be an add-on to an existing role for those working as an Estates Officer or a Supervisor. The courses allow individuals to supervise other members of the team or take on greater responsibilities on-site to ensure a safe working environment. These courses also benefit the wider business by providing assurance that the team is operating on-site in a compliant manner.

The purpose of Authorised Person courses

Develop Training’s Authorised Person courses are designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to manage, operate and maintain the electrical systems they work with safely.

All courses are City & Guild’s accredited and designed in accordance with the required legal guidelines, such as Electricity at Work Regulations 1998. This ensures that the learning materials are in-line with industry standards and provides assured quality for the business that the delegate is working as part of.

The qualification serves as a gateway for professionals seeking to expand their current responsibilities and skillset, as well as contribute to the overall safety of their working environment.

Sector-specific and bespoke AP courses

Develop’s Authorised Person courses span across areas including Healthcare (AP5 & AP6), Ministry of Defence (MoD) Estates and Facilities (AP1) and Industrial and Commercial (AP15), as well as Low Voltage (AP12) and High Voltage (AP15b) qualifications.

For those operating in healthcare environments, Develop’s sector-specific Authorised Person courses cover the updated HTM 06-03 and 06-02 guidelines, ensuring that individuals are qualified to supervise on-site and are equipped with the knowledge around the design, installation and maintenance of a variety of healthcare technologies.

The MoD Estates and Facilities Authorised Person course includes crucial learning materials, such as Mandatory Safety Regulations and procedures from JSP 375 Vol. 3, that delegates can apply to their working environment.

In addition, Develop’s Commercial Authorised Person course helps delegates to comprehend the compliance needed for practical work through training around legal guidelines, such as the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

A blended approach to skill development

When undertaking training, we understand that being classroom-based allows delegates to learn in an interactive environment, providing key opportunities to receive immediate feedback from the course trainer.

Our workshop-centric learning approach continues to play a significant role in the training and assessment stages of our Authorised Person courses. Delegates benefit from being able to ask our trainers about any queries they have, while being exposed to real-life scenarios from the trainers’ expertise.

Benefits of Authorised Person courses for delegates

Undertaking an Authorised Person course with Develop offers numerous advantages for delegates, such as:

1. Gaining a deeper understanding of industry legislation, ensuring compliance and adherence to safety regulations for that particular industry
2. Developing the ability to enhance communication with team members through a shared knowledge base and a common understanding of required safety guidelines
3. Learning at an adaptable pace with the flexibility of blended training, accommodating for busy working schedules
4. Acquiring the ability to apply safety guidelines in real-world scenarios, creating a safer working environment for both the delegate and their wider team
5. Gaining real-world knowledge from highly experienced trainers, providing insights and practical knowledge essential for career development and growth

Benefits of Authorised Person courses for businesses

Businesses are equally able to benefit from putting their team members forward to undertake one of our Authorised Person courses, including:

1. Opportunity to have a Bespoke Training designed by Develop that is tailored to the specific requirements and safety systems of the business
2. Ensuring compliance with industry legislations and guidelines, mitigating risks around health and safety practices of those working on the premises
3. Receiving an independent recommendation of an employee’s suitability as an Authorised Person, validating their competence and upskilling the current workforce
4. Improving the documentation, communication and enforcement of safe working procedures, contributing to an elevated and compliant work environment

Develop offers a range of Authorised Person courses across a wide-range of sectors, covering:

• AUTHORISED PERSON: HIGH VOLTAGE (INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL) (AP15)
• AUTHORISED PERSON: HIGH VOLTAGE (AP15B)
• AUTHORISED PERSON: MECHANICAL SYSTEMS (BOILER AND PRESSURE SYSTEMS) (AP11)
• AUTHORISED PERSON: CONFINED SPACES (MOD) (APCS (MOD))
• AUTHORISED PERSON: CONFINED SPACES REFRESHER (APCS-R)
• AUTHORISED PERSON: WORKING AT HEIGHT (APWAH)
• AUTHORISED PERSON: LOW VOLTAGE HEALTHCARE (AP5)
• AUTHORISED PERSON: HIGH VOLTAGE (HEALTHCARE) (AP6)
• AUTHORISED PERSON: LOW VOLTAGE (AP12)

Those operating as a Competent Person can take the next step in their career by undertaking an Authorised Person course to unlock a new set of skills, gain increased responsibility and improve the safety of the working environment that their team operates in.

To find out more about the Authorised Person training courses that Develop offers, please visit here: https://www.developtraining.co.uk/training/estates-and-facilities-management/electrical-and-mechanical/

Our locations

High Voltage electrical training can be delivered at our York, Swindon and Scotland training centres.

Low Voltage electrical training can be delivered at the majority of our training centres including York, Essex, Derby, Birmingham, Norwich and Swindon. View Develop’s centre locations here: https://www.developtraining.co.uk/about-us/our-locations/

We also have use of all our parent company, JTL’s UK-wide centres, including those in Hull, Nottingham, Orpington, Oxford & Yeovil. For the full list of JTL centres please visit: https://jtltraining.com/about-us/location-centres/

   05 February 2024     News

National Apprenticeship Week: 5th -9th February 2024

Hi there, my name is Eleanor Hurt and I’ve worked at Develop Training since April 2022. As a member of the marketing team my role provides me with a lot of variation and exciting projects. I am also learning ‘on the job’ as I’m currently completing my Level 4 Marketing Apprenticeship with Apprentify.

Here’s a little insight into what a week in the life of a Marketing Apprentice at Develop is like:

Monday

The first thing I do on a Monday is to have a meeting with my manager, Stacey, to discuss and plan the week ahead. I personally prefer to have a to-do list I can work through and this is my opportunity to create that and get the week off to an organised start!

I later met with Ben Blessett, a Streetworks Trainer at Develop to talk through all our NRSWA Streetworks training. I’m creating two flowcharts for our customers to help them select the right training courses for their needs, so Ben talked me through all the options and who each course is suitable for.

After my meeting with Ben, I then had to turn the notebook scribbles into two on-brand and easy-to-follow flowcharts that are suitable for customers. For this I used Adobe InDesign; I really enjoy the graphic design aspects of my role but I’m still learning so this took me most of the day to complete.

Once they were both ready, I sent them to Stacey and she checks over them before I create a landing page in HubSpot ready for our customers to download them.

If you want to take a look at the flowcharts, you can find them here and here.

Tuesday

JTL’s Eastbourne training centre is having its official opening on Thursday 8^th February and Develop will be attending with a stand to promote our short courses. Stacey is attending this event along with Develop’s Key Account Manager, Nichola Kitching. In preparation, Stacey and I got a range of stands and promotional materials out of our marketing storage room and assembled it all to decide what would be the best fit for the space we have.

In the afternoon, I drafted our social media plan for the next two weeks. For this I look at the business focuses and the content we’ve recently published on the website, such as blogs, news articles, course updates etc. I then draft the posts along with the visual assets before passing them over to Stacey for her to check. Once they’re approved I’ll schedule them on our social channels using HubSpot.

Wednesday

On Wednesday, I travelled up to our York site with Stacey to meet with Brandon Clark, an F-Gas Trainer at Develop. We’ve recently re-launched our F-Gas Category 1 training course and part of the marketing plan for this is to have some short videos of Brandon offering tips and advice for those who work with fluorinated gases. We spent most of the morning doing the filming and then we’ll edit them back at the office before posting them on our website and social channels in the coming weeks.

Whilst we were in York, I also met with Tanya Crockett who has recently joined as a Centre Coordinator. We had a quick chat and I made some notes ready to draft her new starter article for our internal comms channels, website and socials.

Thursday

It was great to be back in the office today so I could actually get some work done! Following on from Wednesday’s filming, I began by using Adobe Premier Pro to edit the videos we had filmed. I really enjoy doing this because, although I’m nowhere near an expert, I’m really enjoying having the opportunity to learn such a complex piece of software.

We also had some more new starters in the business today, so I interviewed them for their news articles and talked to them about what we do in the marketing department.

Later in the day I drafted some promotional emails in HubSpot for distribution throughout February.

Friday

Friday’s are my dedicated apprenticeship day and I have my calendar blocked out all day to ensure I get uninterrupted learning time to focus. Develop are also paying for me to do my CIM qualification in addition to my apprenticeship and I’m really grateful for this opportunity because, although it’s hard work, it’s a great addition to my CV.

That’s it…the end of the week – phew! Being a marketing apprentice at an SME is definitely a full-on job but the way I look at it is I’m lucky to get exposure to such a broad range of marketing tasks and to have the opportunity to get involved in things that apprentices at larger organisations don’t get to.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my week, and if you’re ever at Develop’s Derby centre please stop and say hello!