Recent figures released by Ofqual show an increase in employers choosing regulated First Aid at Work qualifications for their staff since the HSE approval of first aid training providers ended in 2013.

On 1st October 2013 the responsibility for monitoring the quality of first aid training providers moved from the HSE to employers. This means that employers have to carry out due diligence (investigations) on their first aid training provider to ensure that the training meets the necessary standards. However, employers do not need to carry out any due diligence if their first aiders undertake regulated first aid qualifications through a training provider that is accredited by an Awarding Organisation. This is because both the training provider and the qualifications have already been verified as meeting the required standards.

Figures released by Ofqual in March 2015 show that regulated qualifications are now becoming the obvious choice for employers with the number of people taking regulated First Aid at Work qualifications increasing by 167% from July 2013 to December 2014.

Anita Goodfellow, CEO of Qualsafe Awards, the UK’s largest Awarding Organisation for first aid qualifications, said: “Employers across all sectors are choosing regulated first aid qualifications for their staff because they offer a quick and easy way to fulfil their legal responsibilities for providing quality first aid training.

“Now that the responsibility lies with employers, it is so important they understand their duties and are aware of the benefits that regulated qualifications can offer them.”

Since the HSE training approval system ceased to operate, David Lloyd Leisure Group offers staff regulated first aid qualifications for the peace of mind and standardisation they provide. Caleb Brown, who is involved in organising the group’s first aid and lifeguard training, explained: “With around 6,000 staff across the UK it is important that we, as a group, comply with the highest standard of first aid training available. Regulated qualifications bring consistency, value, and efficiency.”

He added: “It is the best value option available for our organisation because of the quality assurance the qualifications offer, along with the quality of the materials and learning.”

The group’s membership count is approximately 450,000 and it has a team of over 1,800 highly qualified health and fitness experts. The majority of the team members hold a regulated first aid qualification and are Automated External Defibrillator (AED) trained.

“We provide exceptional service and unrivalled facilities to enable our members of all ages to enjoy active healthy lives. We strive to deliver the highest quality with everything we do, and we need our first aid training to reflect this.

Nationally recognised first aid qualifications ensure that if any of our members or team members need first aid assistance whilst using our clubs then they are treated with compassion, skill, knowledge and competence.”

The David Lloyd Leisure Group includes 88 UK and European David Lloyd Leisure Clubs, two exclusive Harbour Clubs, one Next Generation Club and five David Lloyd Studios. Across all the clubs, there are over 12,500 exercise machines, 150 swimming pools and over 7,000 exercise classes a week. 7uCaleb added: “My advice to anyone looking for first aid training for their staff is to choose regulated qualifications for value.