Delivering improved training at a reduced cost in partnership with London Fire Brigade 

Babcock provides a fully managed service to LFB, taking on responsibility for the full training programme from training needs analysis through to design and development of courses, planning and scheduling of the training, equipment and asset management and facilities management. Improvements delivered include:

• Comprehensive course reviews: thorough review of each programme and its required outcomes to identify more efficient methods including blended solutions. Reviews looked at course content, audience, frequency, firefighter release pattern, requirements to attend etc. to increase overall training efficiency.
• Structured Trainer Competency Framework: reducing the number of instructor competency sets to increase flexibility. Investment in personal development programmes for each trainer to facilitate standard training practices and packages.
• Enhanced scheduling and resourcing: a bespoke planning and scheduling system developed by Babcock ensures LFB has the right people and equipment in the right place at the right time. The Learning Management System enables the integration of training with frontline operations for efficient use of time.

Design and delivery of training

Babcock delivers a portfolio of over 275 training courses to circa 5,000 operational staff and 700 support staff totalling up to 25k training days per annum.

Babcock maintains and updates the portfolio of courses ensuring that they remain up-to-date, relevant and reflect best practice. Babcock works closely with LFB to ensure that changes to courses are carried out quickly and efficiently and adhere to relevant legislation.

Babcock has worked with LFB to develop an 18-month Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship programme which includes e-learning modules, online digital libraries, online assessments and post training workshops. Apprenticeship coaches provide full support to apprentices, including during their time on station, to guide them through their entire learning journey for this nationally recognised qualification.

Provide and manage infrastructure

Babcock provides and manages training infrastructure on behalf of LFB. This saw a £14m investment in two new Dedicated Training Facilities (DTFs) which are home to fully carbonaceous real fire training as well as centres of excellence in Urban Search and Rescue, including Confined Space Training and Incident Command. A portfolio of venues across London is used to enable flexible training capacity and minimise travel time for firefighters.

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