18 December 2023 News
As we bid farewell to 2023, Develop Training takes a moment to reflect on the past twelve months filled with milestones, investments, and a commitment to excellence. From prestigious awards to state-of-the-art training facilities, the year has been a testament to Develop’s dedication to providing training of the highest quality to its customers.
January: Investors In People Gold Award
The year kicked off with a bang as Develop proudly received the highly sought-after ‘Investors In People Gold Award.’ This recognition, achieved by less than ten percent of applying companies, underscored Develop’s commitment to team development, progression, and performance.
February: Mobile Confined Space Unit Joins the Fleet
In February, Develop expanded its training capabilities with the introduction of a Mobile Confined Space Unit. A transformative vehicle that becomes a bespoke training environment in just 15 minutes, this significant investment made confined space training more accessible across the country.
Find out more about the unit here.
March: Derby Training Centre Refurbishment Begins
March saw construction work commence on Develop’s Derby training centre. The refurbishment aimed to enhance delegate classrooms, breakout areas, the canteen, and communal spaces, setting the stage for an improved training experience.
April: Mobile Water Jetting Unit Enhances Training Capability
Continuing to invest in the business, Develop introduced a Mobile Water Jetting Unit in April. This portable high-pressure water jetting unit allows the delivery of water jetting courses at any Develop centre or customer site. It has already proved to be a hit with customers.
Watch this video of Water Jetting Trainer, Danny Connor, as he talks about the mobile unit.
May: Unveiling the Artificial Street and York Centre Refurbishment
May was a pivotal month for Develop as the highly anticipated artificial street, Training Terrace, was unveiled. Following a £500k investment, Training Terrace includes three purpose built bungalows, a confined space unit, deep excavation pit, street scene, and Utili-teas Cafe. Each area has been specifically designed for training purposes, and allowing Develop to safely deliver courses in emergency response to gas incidents, as well as excavation safety, cable avoidance, street lighting, drains, sewer jetting and confined spaces entry.
The York training centre also underwent a £500k refurbishment, featuring updates to classrooms, communal areas, and the HV/LV electrical workshops.
Find out more here.
June: Launch of Digital Learning Platform, LEDA
June marked the launch of Develop’s digital learning platform, LEDA, enriching the existing range of practical training courses on offer.
This online content enhances Develops existing range of courses and provides an easy to use, convenient and flexible learning experience, catering to the diverse needs of our customers.
Matthew Gray, Interim Managing Director, commented: ““Develop has historically provided on-site practical training – and that will continue to be our main focus. However, following the successful launch of our virtual and blended training programmes, we have worked with industry professionals to develop a range of e-learning courses, many of which are professionally accredited by external awarding organisations. This will allow our customers to choose the delivery methods best suited to their employees’ needs.”
Find out more here.
July: Emerge & Evolve Recruitment Programme Success
Six months after the launch of the Emerge & Evolve recruitment programme, Develop celebrated success as it recruited several industry professionals. These individuals were enrolled in a comprehensive training and development plan, paving the way for them to become trainers of the future.
The programme is still ongoing and applications can be made here.
August: Completion of Derby Training Centre Refurbishment
In August, the extensive work on the Derby training centre was officially completed. With an investment of £500k, the upgraded facility boasts modern classrooms and communal spaces, reflecting Develop’s commitment to providing a professional learning environment.
Develop unveils its Derby training centre following a £500K refurbishment
September: Annual Employee Conference and Awards
September saw the return of Develop’s annual Employee Conference, centred around the theme of ‘growth.’ The conference included presentations and team-building activities, and culminated in the Employee Awards where colleagues were recognised for their outstanding contributions.
Here’s where you can find a full breakdown of the awards and their winners.
October: ISO 27001 Accreditation and Continued Success
October was marked by significant achievements as Develop acquired the ISO 27001 Information Security Management System accreditation and were finally able to collect their IIP Gold Award at a prestigious ceremony. The Internal QAA Team also celebrated their second birthday, highlighting the business’s ongoing commitment to quality.
November: F-Gas Training Programme Relaunch and Norwich Training Centre Opening
November was a month of expansion as Develop re-launched its F-Gas training programme and officially opened a new training centre in Norwich. Based in the same building as parent company JTL, the modern centre address the growing demand for electrical and gas traing and relevant short courses in the local area.
Find out more about the Norwich centre here.
In summary, 2023 has been an innovative and successful year for Develop Training, marked by new centres, courses, and accreditations. As the year concludes, Develop remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering high-quality training and looks ahead to another year of growth and achievement in 2024.
