Norfolk-based BLS Safety and Training has welcomed three new members to the training team – Amanda Merrin, Melanie Walker and Richard Hughes – who will be providing first aid and health and safety training to businesses and individuals across the county. This brings the total number of trainers and assessors to eight, including owner-manager Justin Cowles and trainer Clive Wells, who joined the team in September last year. Together, they provide health and safety consultancy services, fire risk assessments, face fit testing, and training courses for businesses and organisations throughout Norwich and Norfolk. Amanda Merrin is a passionate trainer in a wide range of health and social care subjects, and has a natural love for teaching in both physical and mental health first aid. Amanda is hugely experienced in her subject fields, with over 10 years’ experience working in mental health services across Norfolk. Melanie Walker has over 20 years’ experience as an emergency department nurse at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and more recently qualified as an emergency nurse practitioner specialising in minor injuries. She has a natural flare and passion for teaching and loves passing on her experience and knowledge in dealing with real-life workplace injuries. Mel will be delivering a full range of clinical and first aid courses for BLS in both workplace and clinical settings. Richard Hughes is a paramedic with over 15 years’ frontline experience within the East of England Ambulance Service. Richard is passionate about training and his hands on experience brings every course to a new level in with dealing with scenarios. He delivers first aid at work courses, clinical courses and, more recently, courses in manual handling and moving and handing of people. “I am delighted to welcome Amanda, Melanie and Richard to BLS Safety and Training,” says Justin Cowles, managing director. “They each bring a huge amount of skill and industry experience, which further strengthens the team, maintains our high standard of training and enables us to offer an even wider range of training courses, including mental health training.” Justin Cowles set up BLS Safety and Training in 2013 having gained many years’ experience as an emergency medical technician within the private ambulance sector. In April 2023, the business celebrates ten years of providing health and safety services to businesses across Norfolk. To celebrate ten successful years, Justin is offering 10% off every training course booked during the month of April. These can be booked via the website, email or telephone. For more information on the services offered by Norfolk Chamber of Commerce member BLS Safety and Training, and to view the training courses on offer, please visit the website: https://www.blstraining.co.uk/booking/ Image one | Amanda Merrin Image two | Melanie Walker Image three | Richard Hughes