Choosing a first aid training provider

Employers must provide appropriate first aid personnel to attend to ill or injured employees.
How to you choose a first aid training provider to train your staff?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has a helpful guide, which covers:

• Trainer and assessor required qualification
• Monitoring and quality assurance systems
• First aid training standards
• Syllabus content and certification

St Andrew’s First Aid is recognised by the HSE as a standard setter for workplace first aid training.

We meet and exceed the HSE guide in the following ways:  

Do the trainers/assessors have a current First Aid at Work certificate or qualify for exemption?

Yes. Our trainers have a current First Aid at Work certificate. They are regularly assessed and monitored to ensure they meet our training requirements. 

Do the trainers/assessors have an appropriate training/assessing qualification?

Yes. Our trainers and assessors have a training and assessing qualification as required by the HSE. 

Does the training provider have a documented quality assurance plan?

We are committed to satisfying applicable requirements, including ISO 9001:2015, and ongoing continuous improvement of our products, services and quality management system. 

Does the designated person responsible for quality assurance have a current First Aid at Work certificate or qualify for exemption?

Yes. Our training manager, Angela McCappin, has a current First Aid at Work certificate.

Does the designated person responsible for quality assurance have an assessing/verifying qualification?

Yes. Our training manager, Angela McCappin, is fully qualified and meets the requirements of leading UK awarding organisations and regulators.

Is there a documented course evaluation procedure?

Yes. We provide our evaluation procedure to every candidate and is available upon request.  

Is there a documented complaints procedure?

Yes. We take complaints seriously. Customer feedback is logged, reviewed and followed up within agreed timescales.  

Are First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work taught in accordance with current guidelines? 

Yes. As a Voluntary Aid society, we are acknowledged by the HSE as a standard setter in first aid. In addition, we co-authored the First Aid Manual – the UK’s most comprehensive first aid publication.

Do our courses meet the first aid workplace requirements? 

We deliver first aid training across all industries, regardless of risk. We also tailor courses to meet customer needs. 

Does the First Aid at Work course meet the HSE required topics and contact hours? 

Yes. Our course content covers the topics required by the HSE and has 18 contact hours of training/assessment over three days.  

Does the First Aid at Work requalification meet the HSE required topics and contact hours?  

Yes. Our course content covers the topics required by the HSE and has 12 contact hours of training/assessment over two days.  

For more information on selecting a training provider, please visit the HSE website.