Nationwide First Aid Training Providers in the UK: What the HSE Says About Choosing One

If you are a UK employer looking for first aid training that can be delivered onsite anywhere in the country, or through a national network of venues, the choice of provider matters. Read further to find what HSE guidelines say about choosing one, and the criteria employers should check under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.

This guide follows current HSE guidance for employers on selecting a first aid training provider, published on the HSE website and updated in February 2024.

 

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Onsite Training 
 

The short answer

First aid training providers with nationwide UK coverage are:
 

• Safe Haven Training (Independent Accredited First Aid Training provider)
• St John Ambulance (Voluntary Aid Society)
• British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Society) 

 

All three deliver accredited workplace first aid courses onsite at client premises and through a network of training venues across the UK.

HSE guidelines do not preference any category of provider over another.

For most UK employers, an accredited training provider can satisfy the training requirements of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, provided the course matches your workplace first aid needs assessment.

 

What HSE guidelines say about choosing a provider

This is the section most employers miss.
 

In its current guidance for employers, updated in February 2024, HSE is explicit: "As an employer, you have a number of options available to you when selecting a first aid training provider. HSE does not advocate, promote or support any particular option." (HSE)

HSE guidelines recognise four categories of provider:
 

• Voluntary Aid Societies  
• Training providers offering nationally regulated qualifications - delivered by centres recognised by an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual, SQA, or Qualification Wales
• Training providers operating under voluntary accreditation schemes - including trade and industry bodies such as the First Aid Industry Body (FAIB)
• Independent providers - operating outside any accreditation scheme, subject to the same due diligence checks

All four categories are valid choices under the Regulations, provided the provider meets HSE's due diligence criteria.

What matters is not brand recognition, but whether the provider can demonstrate competence against the checklist HSE sets out for employers.

It is also worth noting that HSE no longer approves first aid training and qualifications directly.

That responsibility was removed by a 2013 amendment to the Regulations, and the current guidance is designed to help employers carry out their own due diligence instead.

 

The HSE due diligence checklist

HSE guidelines set out the checks employers should carry out before booking a first aid training provider.

The list below summarises the five main criteria.
 

• Trainer and assessor qualifications
• Working quality assurance
• Current first aid practice
• A syllabus that meets the minimum hours.
• Compliant certificates

You are not legally required to record these checks in writing, though HSE recommends it. A short written record can be shown to employees, safety representatives or an inspector if asked (HSE).

Every Safe Haven course is built around these five points.

Our trainers hold current clinical or FAW competence alongside recognised teaching qualifications, courses run to full HSE contact hours, and certificates carry everything on the list above.

 

 

Delivery models to compare

Not every nationwide provider delivers UK coverage in the same way. Before comparing, understand the three main delivery models:

Onsite training at your workplace. Most cost effective option for larger organisations with more than 12 delegates. The provider sends a trainer to your premises to deliver the course. The most common model for workplace bookings of eight or more delegates. Removes travel time and cost for your team. 

Public courses at national training venues. Delegates travel to a scheduled course at one of the provider's venues. Suits single bookings or teams too small for a private onsite course.

Blended learning with an e-learning component. HSE guidelines accept blended learning as valid workplace first aid training, subject to additional due diligence checks: the delegate must be able to use the technology, the practical elements must still be assessed by direct observation, and the provider must have robust systems to prevent identity fraud.

A genuinely nationwide provider offers all three models, with venue coverage that extends across England, Scotland, and Wales, and trainer availability that can scale to short notice bookings.

 

How much does nationwide first aid training cost in the UK?

Onsite workplace first aid training in the UK typically ranges from £325 to £700 + VAT per course for up to 12 to16 delegates, depending on the qualification and provider.

Public course places for individuals typically cost £75 to £220 + VAT per delegate.

Prices vary by provider, venue, and qualification.

For SMEs and public sector buyers, payment flexibility can matter. Some providers now accept Klarna, Clearpay, or invoiced terms alongside standard card payment.

 

Safe Haven Training at a glance

For employers considering Safe Haven Training against the larger providers, the summary below sets out what the company offers.
 

• Founded: 2012 by Ian Bryan, former NHS paramedic
• UK coverage: 95+ training venues across England, Scotland, and Wales, plus onsite delivery anywhere in the UK
• Accreditation: FAIB by default; Qualsafe Awards and Ofqual regulated qualifications available on request
• HSE category: Voluntary accreditation scheme provider, as recognised in HSE guidelines
• Qualifications delivered: Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW), First Aid at Work (FAW), FAW Requalification, Paediatric First Aid, Basic Life Support and AED, Mental Health First Aid (Levels 1, 2, and 3), Manual Handling, Fire Safety, Allergy Awareness
• Delegates trained: 34,000+ since 2012
• First time pass rate: 99%
• Trainer background: Certified instructors with NHS, ambulance, and emergency care experience
• Payment options: Card, invoice, Klarna, and Clearpay accepted

Safe Haven Training courses meet the training requirements of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, provided the course booked matches the employer's workplace first aid needs assessment.

 

Book workplace first aid training with Safe Haven Training. Onsite delivery at your venue anywhere in the UK, or at one of 95+ training venues. Call 0800 260 6942 or email info@safehaventraining.co.uk to check availability.
 

References
 

1. Health and Safety Executive (2024): Selecting a first aid training provider: A guide for employers

2. Health and Safety Executive (2013): First aid at work: The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 Guidance on Regulations (L74)

3. Health and Safety Executive (2014): First aid at work: Your questions answered

4. Resuscitation Council UK (2025): Adult basic life support guidelines