Choosing the Right First Aid Course Provider

The law is changing so it’s no longer a necessity for first aid training to be approved by the Health & Safety Executive, giving businesses more freedom to choose a first aid course that is more reflective of their needs. But it does now mean that finding the right first aid training course provider could prove tricky, especially when there are so many different organisations offering a range of courses all geared towards different requirements and environments.

So what should you look out for?

1 – Find out if the company you are looking to use is Government or Local Authority approved. This means they are likely to have been HSE approved, which will evidence that they are used to conforming to strict quality standards and will have fully trained and qualified instructors.

2 – One of the most important considerations is ensuring your training course in accredited by a professional, trusted and well-respected organisation. The leading awarding bodies in first aid courses include City & Guilds, HSE (until the law changes) and CIEH, so choose a course that is trusted by these organisations such as NUCO.

3 – Choosing a training provider that evidences their dedication to equality and diversity will ensure all your employees are trained to the same, professional level, irrespective of sex, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, etc. Check for the government’s two ticks logo to see if your chosen provider is ‘Positive about Disabled People’ and enquire about how they would overcome language barriers to see if they are prepared to ensure all learners receive the same attention.

4 – Ensuring your employees have access to the support and assistance they require is essential to success. A good first aid training provider will make course materials available for all learners online and will be able to accept questions and queries 24 hours a day. An organisation like HST Ltd are dedicated to ensure all their learners have access to the help they need which is why they promise to respond to any queries within 24 hours!

5 – No matter whether you’re sending one employee for first aid training or you’re sending 20, you need to be sure that your chosen training provider is flexible in the courses they deliver and with their teaching methods. So make sure they will tailor a learning plan that will exactly suit your requirements, including your environment and the specific risks that are present as well as the ability and needs of your employees.

6 – The Matrix Standard is a national quality standard for institutions or organisations offering any form of information, advice or guidance – such as first aid training and information. It enables them to assess and measure the quality of the advice services they provide to support individuals in their choice of career.

7 – No matter whether you have vulnerable employees or not, it is always advisable to ensure the instructors and staff that will be delivering the first aid course are CRB checked. This will help to keep your team protected and safe – which should always be the highest priority of a business!

8 – And finally, one of the best ways to assess the quality of the training, the flexibility of the organisation and the professionalism of the staff, is to see if the company have any testimonials or case studies displayed on their website. This is a quick and easy check that could tell you all you need to know about the organisation!

This simple checklist applies to all types of training, not just first aid courses, so no matter what training you or your employees need, make sure you choose a reputable and well-respected organisation that can evidence their dedication to the success of their learners!