Hippo Training

A few thoughts from Stephen after another fantastic day of training last Tuesday…

There’s something really rewarding about working with organisations where the values align – people who care about quality, professionalism and, most importantly, the people they’re investing in.

Stephen was back in London delivering Fire Marshal training for the brilliant team at Brunswick Group, on behalf of PYRO Fire and Mike Manning Consultancy & Training Ltd

For Stephen, one of the best parts of being a trainer is the relationships that develop along the way. It’s never just about turning up, delivering a course and handing out certificates. It’s about building trust, representing the organisations you’re working on behalf of and making sure every delegate leaves feeling more knowledgeable and confident than when they arrived.

Brunswick made quite an impression.

From the welcome Stephen received to the enthusiasm of the delegates, he came away full of praise for the people, the professionalism and the culture he experienced throughout the day.

As Stephen put it, trainers often remember venues not because of the buildings, but because of the people – and Brunswick is definitely one he’ll remember for all the right reasons.

A huge thank you to everyone at Brunswick Group, and to Pyro Fire and MMCT for continuing to trust Stephen to deliver on their behalf.

Days like these are exactly what Hippo Training is all about. 🦛

Another brilliant day at Acre Hall! 💚

After recently spending time with their amazing Year 5 pupils during our Little Lifesavers sessions, it was lovely to return and work with the staff as they completed their FAA Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid.

The team completed part of their learning online before joining us for the practical session, meaning we could spend more time practising hands-on skills, working through real-life scenarios and building confidence together.
There was fantastic participation throughout the day, plenty of great questions and lots of practical learning. It's always a pleasure working with schools that are so committed to keeping children safe.

A big thank you to everyone at Acre Hall for making us feel so welcome once again. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

💚

Another brilliant day of practical First Aid training delivered by Stephen.

This week Stephen was in Bradford delivering a Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work course for the fantastic team at Drighlington Primary School on behalf of our valued training partner, Aid Training in Warminster.

Schools are environments where first aid knowledge can have an immediate impact, and it's always encouraging to see teams who are genuinely engaged, ask great questions and fully embrace the practical elements of the course.

Training isn't just about meeting requirements. It's about giving people the confidence to stay calm, make informed decisions and provide potentially life-saving care when it's needed most.

A huge thank you to everyone at Drighlington Primary School for such a warm welcome, and to Aid Training for the continued partnership. We look forward to working together again soon.

On Wednesday Hippo Training was in Bradford delivering a Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work course for the fantastic team at Drighlington Primary School on behalf of the wonderful Aid Training in Warminster.

I've had the pleasure of working with Aid Training for many years. Like so many things in our industry, busy diaries meant our paths hadn't crossed for a little while, so it's great to say the stars have aligned and we're working together again. It's always a pleasure partnering with organisations that share the same commitment to delivering engaging, practical training that gives people the confidence to act when it matters most.

The staff at Drighlington Primary School were an absolute credit to the school. From the moment we started they were fully engaged, eager to contribute and asked thoughtful, relevant questions throughout the day. Their enthusiasm to learn and willingness to get involved in the practical scenarios created a brilliant atmosphere and made the course thoroughly enjoyable to deliver.

Working in a school environment means first aid skills can make a real difference, often in those first crucial moments before further help arrives. Seeing a team so committed to developing those skills and building their confidence is exactly why I enjoy what I do.

A huge thank you to everyone at Drighlington Primary School for making me feel so welcome, and to Aid Training for another opportunity to work together. I'm looking forward to many more courses together over the coming months.

Another fantastic day out delivering practical Fire Marshal training.

Stephen was in central London this week working with the team at Brunswick Group LLP on behalf of Mike Manning Consultancy & Training LtdMMCT, helping delegates develop the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively in the event of a fire.

It's great to see such enthusiastic participation, especially during the practical extinguisher exercises. Engaged learners always make for the best training sessions, and it's clear Brunswick Group is committed to investing in both the safety and development of its people.

A huge thank you to MMCT for the continued partnership and to everyone at Brunswick Group LLP for making the day such a success.

Well done, Stephen!

Another great day out delivering Fire Marshal training at Plater Group's headquarters in Burton upon Trent on behalf of Mike Manning Consultancy & Training Ltd

At Hippo Training, we believe the best learning happens when people feel comfortable to ask questions, share experiences and challenge different scenarios. That's exactly what today's group did.

While the delegates were office-based within the chemical industry, the conversations highlighted an important point – fire safety is relevant to every workplace and every member of the team.

Together we looked at the responsibilities of a Fire Marshal, how to identify and reduce fire risks, what to do during an evacuation and how small actions can make a big difference in an emergency.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for making the session so engaging, and to MMCT and Plater Group for continuing to invest in the knowledge and confidence of your people. Creating safer workplaces starts with great conversations, and today was full of them.

Another fantastic session delivered recently by Stephen over at Didsbury for the team at Great Places Housing Group working alongside the brilliant Mike Manning Consultancy & Training Ltd

At Hippo Training, we’re incredibly proud to work in partnership with organisations that genuinely value safety, education and protecting both their staff and the communities they support.
Sharps Awareness training is about so much more than ticking boxes. It’s about building confidence, increasing situational awareness and helping people recognise hazards before incidents happen.

The hidden sharps exercise always proves to be a real eye-opener and this group did brilliantly identifying every single one, proving exactly why vigilance and awareness matter so much in frontline environments.

A huge thank you again to Great Places Housing Group and MMCT for having us involved in such an important piece of training.

If your organisation would benefit from practical, engaging Sharps Awareness training, we’d love to hear from you.

A very full week of training finishes today with Stephen delivering an Immediate Life Support (ILS) course in Lancashire for a highly experienced multidisciplinary team of Doctors, Consultants and Nurses within an independent specialist healthcare setting.

Working alongside organisations such as Kasrob Group continues to be something we are incredibly proud of, particularly when there is such a strong shared focus on patient safety, clinical excellence and meaningful professional development.

Stephen's background and specialist interests within emergency response, resuscitation and high-pressure clinical decision-making bring a practical, real-world approach to these sessions that consistently encourages engagement and discussion, regardless of experience level.

At Hippo Training, we strongly believe that high-quality resuscitation training is about far more than compliance. It is about helping professionals build confidence, communication, leadership and the ability to respond calmly and effectively when patients need them most.

No matter how experienced a team may be, there is always value in revisiting core principles, refining teamwork and reinforcing those early interventions that can make such a critical difference to patient outcomes.
A fantastic way to round off a busy week of training.

If your organisation is looking for realistic, engaging and clinically focused Immediate Life Support or emergency care training, we would be delighted to support you.

Mental Health Awareness Week feels like a good reminder that mental health isn’t something that only matters when people are visibly struggling.

Sometimes it’s the colleague who seems “fine”.
The person who keeps showing up.
The one making everyone else laugh.
The one carrying pressure quietly.

At Hippo Training, we spend a lot of time working alongside people in healthcare, education, care, housing and frontline roles, environments where people are often supporting others whilst trying to hold themselves together too.

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme focuses on taking action. Not grand gestures. Just meaningful ones.

Checking in with somebody properly.
Taking a break without guilt.
Asking for help earlier.
Creating workplaces where people feel safe to speak honestly.

Awareness matters, but everyday conversations matter too.

If you or someone you know needs support, there are some excellent organisations and free resources available:

🧠 Mental Health Foundation
www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week

💙 Mind
Mind UK www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-week

📞 Samaritans (24/7 support)
Samaritans www.samaritans.org

🌱 NHS Mental Health Support
NHS Every Mind Matters www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters

🤝 Mental Health UK
Mental Health UK mentalhealth-uk.org/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-days/mental-health-awareness-week

So a small reminder that people are often carrying more than we realise, including ourselves.

There’s something really special about working with clients over the long term 💛

Last week, Stephen spent two days delivering our Paediatric First Aid (FAA Level 3) course with the wonderful team at Tiddlywinks Nursery Group Crumpsall, a partnership that’s been going strong for over 10 years.

Honestly … it shows.

The confidence, the teamwork, the way staff approach every scenario with calmness and care. It’s exactly what happens when training isn’t just a one-off, but something that’s invested in properly over time.

Because when it comes to children, it’s never just about ticking a box.

It’s about knowing you’re ready if something happens.
We absolutely love supporting teams like this 👏

If you run a nursery, school or childcare setting and want your team to feel this confident too, we’d love to help.

Pop us a message to chat about upcoming courses 📩