People

Simon's 15 years as a firefighter gives insight for his health and safety training business

Simon Cassin, Director, Ouch Training Team Ltd. Picture: Dorset Biz News.

By Staff Reporter [email protected]

Published: August 3, 2020 | Updated: 30th October 2020

Simon Cassin has seen at first-hand what can happen when things go wrong in the workplace.

For 15 years he was in the frontline as a firefighter with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

The 54-year-old saw his fair share of incidents at industrial premises, latterly as a Station Officer.

One, an explosion in 2003, was particularly harrowing.

It resulted in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and leaving the job he had set his heart on since his teens.

Even driving around Greater Manchester triggered painful memories and he resolved to move as far away from the area as possible.

Top of the list was Dorset, a favourite location for family holidays.

Simon, a father of four, said: “I loved my time in the fire brigade .

“It was a huge wrench to leave.

“The brigade were very supportive but I just couldn’t carry on with it.”

But Greater Manchester’s loss was to become Dorset’s gain.

Because a venture Simon had founded while working with the fire service, Ouch Training Team, became a full-time occupation.

And who better to design and deliver health and safety courses then someone who’s seen the consequences of not getting it right?

Simon said: “It’s just not acceptable in the fire brigade to get it wrong.

“After every incident you ask: what can we learn?

“The fact is if you don’t change and adapt then people will die.”

In the case of Ouch Training Team Ltd – incorporated as a company in 2001 – don’t expect to sit in the back row, take a snooze and then pick up a handout at the end.

Simon said: “The Ouch style is to challenge learners.

“We want people attending our courses to think about their training.

“How they can affect outcomes and not just blindly accept what they’ve been told,”

Today Wimborne-based Ouch Training Team is one of the best-known health and safety training companies in the area.

Its trainers deliver a range of courses from mental health first aid, asbestos safety and driver CPC through to fire safety, food hygiene and health and wellbeing.

In addition to Simon the Dorset team includes Su Turner, Director of Sales and Marketing, and Kimberley Fudge, Finance Manager.

Clients include BCP Council, Hamworthy Engineering, Lush, Sunseeker International and Wessex Group.

The business also has a North West training venue in Altrincham, Cheshire.

Former fire service colleague Nick Hince, who retired from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in July 2019 after 28 years, is Regional Manager.

Max Cassin, Simon’s brother, is Operations Manager.

So to Covid-19.

Like so many businesses, Ouch has completely overhauled the way it works.

Prior to the pandemic the company conducted most of its training face-to-face.

Now it’s adopted a ‘blended learning’ approach.

That involves a combination of online teaching with traditional classroom-based methods.

The new training courses are backed by a range of award bodies including the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

Su, who joined Ouch in 2016, said: “The pandemic presented an opportunity for Ouch to offer flexibility with our training methods.

“Face-to-face learning remains a core aspect of our offering, with practical parts of the qualification needing to be assessed by a qualified Ouch trainer.

“However, by keeping some aspects of the training online, businesses can easily fit the qualification in around their busy schedules, cutting down on travel time and enabling us as a company to extend our reach.”

To begin with the following courses are offered in a blending learning format:

  • Mental health first aid
  • Asbestos safety training
  • Fire safety training
  • First aid
  • Behaviour safety training
  • Well-being training

Earlier this year Simon received international recognition for his outstanding contribution in the field of health, safety and wellbeing.

The British Safety Council shortlisted him in the CEO award category at this year’s International Safety Awards.

Simon was one of five shortlisted CEOs from across the globe which included nominations from Indonesia and Dubai.

And he is currently in the fifth year of a six-year BA (Honours) Philosophy and Psychological Studies with The Open University.

Simon said: “Behaviour forms so much of what we do.

“It’s a fascinating degree but will also help me with the business as we extend our reach even further in the future.

“We’ve had to change our business model but I’m confident it will work well for us.”

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