First Aid Training Standards & HSE

In October 2013, a significant change took place within the UK first aid training industry. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) amended the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, removing the requirement for the HSE to directly approve first aid training providers, qualifications and courses.

Prior to these changes, training providers delivering workplace First Aid at Work (FAW) and Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) qualifications required approval from the HSE. The approval process provided a centralised system for monitoring training standards and course delivery.

Following a government review of regulatory requirements, it was determined that direct approval by the HSE was no longer necessary. The aim was to reduce administrative burdens, increase flexibility for employers and training providers, and encourage a more diverse and competitive training market. Rather than acting as an approving body, the HSE shifted its focus towards providing guidance and setting expectations for employers when selecting a training provider.

This change came into effect on 1st October 2013 and remains in place today.
Since deregulation, the responsibility for selecting a competent first aid training provider has moved from the HSE to employers. Organisations are now required to undertake their own due diligence when choosing who delivers their workplace first aid training.

The HSE provides guidance to help employers assess the suitability of a training provider. This includes considering factors such as:

• The qualifications and experience of trainers and assessors
• The quality assurance processes in place
• The relevance and accuracy of course content
• Training facilities and resources
• Assessment methods
• Certification procedures
• Ongoing monitoring and course review processes

Employers must be satisfied that the training provider they choose can deliver training that is adequate, appropriate and relevant to the risks identified within their workplace first aid needs assessment.

The HSE is clear that there is no longer such a thing as an “HSE Approved” first aid training provider. Any organisation making this claim is using outdated terminology. Instead, training providers must demonstrate competence, quality and compliance through robust systems, qualified personnel and current course content.

At First Aid Education, we believe compliance should be the starting point—not the finish line.

While we fully meet the requirements set out by the HSE and ensure our courses align with current Resuscitation Council UK guidelines, our ambition has always been to create training that goes far beyond the minimum standard.

Too often, first aid training can become a box-ticking exercise. Learners attend because they have to, complete an assessment and receive a certificate. Whilst this may satisfy a compliance requirement, it does not always create confident first aiders who are ready to respond effectively in a real emergency.

We wanted to build something different.

From the beginning, our goal has been to develop a dynamic, engaging and practical syllabus that empowers learners with genuine confidence and competence. We continuously review and enhance our courses to ensure they remain relevant to the environments our learners work within and the emergencies they may realistically encounter.

Our programmes combine evidence-based teaching, realistic scenarios, practical skill development and interactive learning techniques designed to improve knowledge retention and confidence.

Rather than simply teaching people how to pass an assessment, we focus on helping them understand why interventions are performed, when they should be used and how to adapt their response to the situation in front of them.