News article published: 16th February 2022
PPL Training is now one of the leading providers of accredited HTM compliant, mechanical & electrical safe systems of work, technical, and legionella training. Across our York and Slough centres, we currently boast around 40,000ft2 of training facilities, including 22 classrooms and a plethora of practical facilities to perfectly compliment our growing course offer… But, how did we get here?
From our base on James Street in York, we began preparations for our M&E venture, by advertising ‘Mechanical and Electrical Systems’ training through our website. Aimed at authorised persons in low voltage, mechanical & pressure systems, and aeronautical ground lighting disciplines, these courses would form the basis of our extensive course programme today.
We aim to provide a superb learning experience from start to finish with innovative and interactive teaching methods giving delegates the best possible opportunity to enhance their knowledge as well as putting their skills into practice with our realistic real world scenario based practical exercises.
www.ppltraining.co.uk - December 2011
Whilst we enjoyed our humble beginnings as a family run training provider (starting up in a single 400ft2 classroom, small workshop and 5 parking spaces back in 2005) it was time for us to expand.May 2012 saw the acquisition of Unit 6&7, Opus Avenue (now known as PPL House), on York Business Park. With this move, PPL Training became able to focus on providing, not only a more comfortable learning environment, but increasingly in-depth and varied practical M&E training.
Our first M&E courses ran in July 2012, however, given the sheer velocity of our growth, we quickly found ourselves in need of more classrooms, and more industry experts!
On the 1st July 2013 we received the keys for Unit 5 Opus Avenue, and what would become our second building in York Business Park. This space very quickly became a necessity as we utilised the ground floor to house a wide range of practical training facilities, including at one point an ‘eco-house’ (a full working mock-up of
an environmentally friendly home environment), plumbing bays, and solar panel installations.
These facilities would later shift focus to meet the needs of our growing M&E programmes, with the addition of 3 tonnes of high and low voltage transformers, and SF6 switch unit equipment.
In 2013 our M&E course portfolio included electrical low voltage, electrical high voltage, f-gas installations, management of safety (authorising engineer), mechanical & pressure systems, aeronautical ground lighting, legionella and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.
As we entered new markets and secured our foothold in others, we identified the need for permanent training facilities in other areas of the country. As such, on the 14th September 2015, PPL Training collected the keys to our Malton Avenue centre. Situated on Slough Trading Estate, this centre granted us the opportunity to replicate the training offered in York, housing the most varied and complete collection of practical training facilities in any one building to date. The centre opened fully to delegates in January 2016.
In 2019 and 2020 PPL Training continued to expand their facilities even further, as we secured the purchase of Tudor Court, part of our York Campus, and the lease of Bedford Avenue, a second centre on the Slough Trading Estate. Both of these acquisitions increased our Electrical Installations and Water Hygiene capacity and allowed for further practical facilities to be installed, including a second high voltage ring in York. These enhanced facilities allowed a more detailed understanding for all authorised, competent and skilled persons in any business or trust.
Whilst 2020 brought new challenges in the way of the COVID-19 pandemic, which temporarily put a halt to our face-to-face training, we were able to adapt. We introduced a selection of remote training courses for delegates who would not require hands-on practical assessments, and spent the necessary time to ensure that our facilities were as safe as possible upon their eventual re-opening in June 2020. Our course offering expanded once more to include medical gases courses, and we took the opportunity to invest heavily in more industry standard equipment to aid in the teaching of these courses. Between May 2020 and August 2021, PPL Training invested over £850K in HTM compliant medical gas and ventilation facilities in both York and Slough.
To cap off 2021 PPL Training acquired the lease of a 4th building on York Business Park, which at the time of writing has opened its doors to its first delegates, utilising the 4 new classrooms on the first floor. Installation of brand new practical training facilities is under way on the ground floor, which is estimated to be completed in Q1 2022.
Over the last 10 years, we have solidified our position as a leading training provider in the UK. Being members of IET/IHEEM, and recognised within the approved compliance suppliers list, PPL continue to offer national, cost effective training on-site, in centre and remotely, all with strict COVID-19 precautions in place to ensure your safety. A large portion of our success to this point, and going forward, is down to our training staff and management teams. The knowledge and foresight that these individuals bring to the table on a weekly basis mean that we are able to foresee changes in the industry and react accordingly, ensuring that PPL Training continues to deliver excellence as standard.
