News

OBITUARY PAUL COLLINS

It is with deep regret that BRITTOp must announce the death of Paul Collins who passed away peacefully after a short illness, bravely fought with his wife Yaprak and lifelong friend Allison at his side.

Paul, of Union Mills, Isle of Man, was effectively one of BRITTOp’s founder members.

He had the same principles, and, BRITTOp is the better for the wise counsel that he gave us during our set up phase, as well as during the early days of our trading.

He was well known and respected within the training industry, an excellent instructor and from time to time those that met him were regaled with tales of his “spannering days” with various TT riders and teams.

Due to Covid travel restrictions to the Island a celebration of Paul's life will take place in the UK later and there will be an announcement on the website when further details are known.


BRITTOP is now an Awarding Organisation/Body that is recognised by CITB and the UK construction industry
(since Nov. 2019)

BRITTOP are very pleased to announce that we are now an Awarding Organisation recognised by the CITB

CITB is obviously well known in the construction sector and supports skills training and development through industry training courses.

As an awarding organisation, it will be BRITTOPs role to provide qualifications for courses delivered by our member training providers.

BRITTOP accredited training courses for equipment used in the construction industry would include industrial forklifts, all types of rough terrain telescopic handlers, excavators, dumpers, mobile elevating work platforms, lorry loaders, loading shovels, cranes, slinger/signaller and many other courses that you our members provide to such high standards.

How would this benefit you as a BRITTOP training Provider ?

As an awarding body, BRITTOP member companies who provide training to construction workers can now apply to become a CITB Approved Training organisation (ATO) for the construction industry.

Why become an Approved Awarding Organisation ?

Training providers that successfully complete the CITB application process will be recognised within the construction industry as quality organisations that work to a defined industry-approved standard.

As a CITB ATO companies can advertise its courses on the CITB Construction Training Register and Construction Training Directory, so companies or workers interested in working in the construction sector can easily find a BRITTOP quality training provider.

As an ATO you would also be part of CITB’s automated grant payments system, this could be an attractive selling point to employers who want to book staff on courses, as the search tool enables them to easily receive reimbursements (if they pay the CITB levy).

BRITTOP members can apply by logging in to the website as normal pressing the CITB / ATO link and filling in the application – your company registration number and details will be checked as this is for BRITTOP members only.


Without Prejudice

It was six years ago that the HSE announced that they no longer administered an Accrediting Bodies Scheme.

This information is written in the Third edition of L117 which was published in 2013:

  • Page 19 paragraph 95 clarifies a Training Providers requirements and paragraph 96 confirms the ABA status.
  • Page 40 confirms the HSE stance that the ABA is merely a useful contact (as is anywhere you can obtain information about where to receive training).

Since this Third Edition, the HSE has not recognised any Organisations (AITT, ITSSAR, NPORS or RTITB) as Accrediting Bodies.

And they also no longer recognise the ABA itself as an Accrediting Body as outlined above.

We do, at times, despair that ABA registered training providers do not appear to have read the "Bible" to which they are required to operate.

It seems certain the ABA are criticising non-ABA members (BRITTOP- LANTRA - PASMA - IPAF etc.) for not being members of a body which is no longer even recognised.

These other bodies all work to HSE standards, and maybe even better or higher.

Verbal abuse, insults lies, etc...  just make these people look stupid and at best uninformed of how the training industry has changed.

This not only confuses the public and is obviously untrue.

This is why a huge number of training providers are leaving these old companies and transferring to new forward thinking companies.


Introducing BRITTOp

BRITTOp is a fully H&S Legislation compliant alternative to the ABA companies, as are the other bodies mentioned above.

Clarifying

Hope this helps inform training providers of current H&S legislation.

And, you never know, may be some of the old bodies will read up and actually learn what L117 clearly states.