Due to impending changes in legislation regarding emergency response driver training, we have been investigating numerous options for the provision for such within the Bolton MRT, particularly as the previous providers for us in this respect, namely Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire Constabulary are no longer in a position to provide such for us.
Having investigated the numerous courses currently commercially available, we have entered into correspondence with Stephen Milton of Emergency Response Driver Training, from Wixley, York, Yorkshire.
Team member Martin Banks has spent a great deal of time in late November and December 2012, looking at the options available to us from Stephen and his company, culminating this evening in a visit to us by Stephen and a presentation to our Leaders and other team members.
Present to hear Stephen’s very detailed presentation was our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon, Training Officer Elaine Gilliland, Martin Banks, Steve Fletcher and Mike Marsh.
Essentially Stephen outlined the numerous training modules / courses available from his company under the guise of ‘Mountain Rescue Emergency Response Driver Training.’
This included two and five day options, and a four day (Long day) option, all accredited by RoSPA Driver and Fleet Solutions.
Their courses, Stephen explained, are conducted by a team of highly qualified ex Emergency Services personnel with many years experience delivering Emergency Response blue light driver training to the Emergency Services, all to a ratio of one instructor to two students.
Stephen kindly stayed on to answer the many questions we had, and we are now clearer with the direction we wish to proceed with regards to this training.
We would like to thank Stephen for spending this evening with us to explain how his company can help us with our ‘Emergency Response Driver Training.’
(Stephen has provided elements of such training to our colleagues in Scarborough and Ryedale MRT and is currently involved in delivering such training to our close neighbours in Rossendale and Pendle MRT)
Such training provision which will be necessary by new legislation, and will be essential to how we operate, will incur a very substantial high cost onto the team, from a set up charge to annual ‘continuation training,’ and subsequent ‘new member’ training.
As a direct result we will have to look at further fundraising efforts within the team including sponsor options for such training.
