With decades of industry experience, a background in gas network operations, and a passion for keeping people safe, Simon plays a vital role in shaping the Eurosafe Training Academy.
In this Q&A session, Simon shares what led him into training, his advice for those working in confined spaces, the reality of delivering courses across the UK, and why “having the courage to stop and think” can save lives.
Professional Background
Q. What inspired you to become a Health & Safety trainer, and how did you get started in the field?
My background was as an apprentice for British Gas Northern, working as a gas main layer and repair engineer. I did that for nearly 15 years but realised it wasn’t something I could do forever. An opportunity came up to start teaching others what I’d been doing, and after a particularly rough winter working outside, I decided to make the move into training. Apart from a short two-year spell back on site to keep my hand in, it’s been a great career change.
Q. You’ve specialised in confined space training for many years – what’s the most important message you try to get across to delegates on these courses?
Have the courage to stop and think. Make sure you’re happy with the situation you’re about to face – and if not, do something about it. Most people instinctively know when something isn’t as safe as it should be, and they usually know what needs to be done to make it right. Acting on that instinct might just stop someone from getting hurt.
Q. Can you tell us more about your work with City & Guilds and what delivering accredited training involves?
In short – more paperwork! But seriously, our standard of training usually exceeds City & Guilds requirements. The key with accreditation is ensuring consistent assessment of learning and maintaining proper records and evidence. It’s about proving that people haven’t just attended, but that they’ve actually understood and can apply what they’ve learned.
Q. You’ve also delivered NVQs for gas network training – how does that experience influence your work at Eurosafe?
It’s helped me appreciate that everyone learns differently. NVQ-style assessments let you see people in real working situations rather than just a classroom. That perspective is useful across all our training – it reminds us that the goal is competence in the real world, not just passing a course.
Role at Eurosafe
Q. What’s the biggest challenge in running a training academy that meets both company and City & Guilds standards?
Good record keeping and having a consistent approach to teaching and assessing. Everyone on the team has to be on the same page with the standards we deliver.
Q. What’s been your proudest moment since joining Eurosafe?
Being part of a great team and seeing it grow. Watching the Training Academy expand and knowing I’ve played a part in that has been a real highlight.
Q. You deliver training across the UK – how does delivering training on-site using the mobile training unit compare to sessions at the Sheffield Training Academy?
On-site sessions are great for delegates – they can relate what we’re teaching directly to the work they’re doing day to day. At the training centre, it takes a bit more creativity to make scenarios feel specific to their industry, but we make sure we tailor everything we do.
Training Insights
Q. What’s the most common misconception people have about confined space work or gas safety?
That “it won’t happen to me.” That mindset is dangerous – incidents don’t discriminate.
Q. How do you keep training engaging for people who might have done it before or aren’t looking forward to it?
Get them involved right from the start. We’re good at asking a few probing questions early on to gauge experience levels. Then we tailor the session – ask them to share real situations they’ve faced. That gets people thinking, engaging, and contributing.
Q. Have you ever had a ‘lightbulb moment’ from a delegate during a session that really stuck with you?
Nearly every course has at least one! You’ll see a shift in someone’s expression or attitude when something clicks – often because we’ve explained it differently or shown it in a way they hadn’t seen before.
Q. What do you enjoy most about working with delegates from different industries and backgrounds?
We learn from them! Between us we’ve picked up knowledge about everything from brick and concrete manufacturing to brewing, recycling, pharmaceuticals, fire protection using oxygen depletion systems – even shipbreaking. I’ve personally been onboard a scrap collection vessel in Hull docks. You meet some brilliant people in this job.
Looking Ahead
Q. What new courses or training areas are you hoping to introduce to the Eurosafe Training Academy in the future?
We’re in the early stages of delivering NVQ Levels 2 and 3 for our team. We’re also working on getting some of our courses externally accredited and looking at how we can strengthen our core offering with specialist subjects like gas detection.
Q. How do you see the role of technology evolving in the way health and safety training is delivered?
Technology is making things safer and smarter – better gas detection equipment, drones being used to inspect confined spaces or work at height, for example. It’s changing the landscape, and we need to keep pace in how we train people.
Q. What advice would you give to someone starting a career in health and safety training today?
Go for it! It’s a bit daunting the first time you stand in front of a group – you’ll think you’ve forgotten everything. Just take a breath, clear your throat, and say: “Good morning, I’m Simon…” and it starts to flow. If you don’t know something, say so – then find the answer together. That’s how everyone learns.
