Building a Culture of Safety: How BR Specialists Help Organisations Train from Within

Updated: May 21

Safety in the workplace isn't just about policies on paper. It's about what happens in the moment, when tensions rise, emotions run high, or situations become unpredictable. That's why more organisations are turning to BR Specialists to build internal training capacity through their Train-the-Trainer and refresher programmes.

From care homes to universities, transport hubs to retail chains, BR Specialists are helping teams move beyond surface-level compliance towards something deeper, a culture of safety that's lived, shared, and continually strengthened

Nick Attard, General Manager at BR Specialists, explains:

“Our Train-the-Trainer courses give organisations real autonomy. We equip their internal teams with the tools, understanding and confidence to deliver high-quality, context-specific training that reflects the gold standard in workplace safety and behavioural awareness.”

Why Train-the-Trainer Works

Rather than relying solely on external providers or ad hoc sessions, many organisations are choosing to build their own in-house training capability. This model offers several advantages:

Scalable and consistent safety messaging across departments or locations
Lower long-term costs compared to repeated third-party training
Customisable content that reflects the realities of specific working environments
Empowered internal trainers who can respond quickly and train new staff as needed

Whether it's a hospital ward, customer service desk or security checkpoint, having someone on the team who can train others brings flexibility, credibility and a sense of ownership.

Refresher Training Keeps Standards High

Once certified, internal trainers need to stay current. BR Specialists’ refresher courses are designed to maintain high standards over time. They keep trainers up to date with:

The latest de-escalation techniques
Changes to relevant UK legislation
Evolving risk factors and behavioural trends in different industries

This continuous development approach aligns with HSE guidance, which recommends that anyone delivering workplace training should regularly update their knowledge and methods to ensure effectiveness.

Where It Makes a Difference

Train-the-Trainer models are especially effective in sectors that regularly face high-stress or public-facing scenarios. BR Specialists work with clients across:

Adult social care - supporting carers dealing with challenging behaviour
Retail – training staff to defuse confrontations and handle verbal abuse
Higher education - helping universities protect staff during public engagement or student escalations
Transport - ensuring front-facing teams know how to deal with distressed or disruptive passengers
Events and hospitality - equipping stewards, managers and security with unified, clear approaches

The need for such training is underscored by recent statistics. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there were 642,000 incidents of violence at work in 2023/24, including 290,000 assaults and 352,000 threats. HSE

In the healthcare sector, the situation is particularly concerning. NHS England reported that 1 in 7 NHS staff (14.38%) experienced physical violence from patients, their relatives, or other members of the public in 2024. NHS England

More Than Training – A Culture Shift

Embedding this type of training into an organisation sends a clear message: we value staff safety, and we are willing to invest in it. Internal trainers become not just instructors, but advocates for a better, safer working culture.

Nick Attard adds:

“We see a transformation in organisations that adopt this model. It’s not just about ticking boxes. It’s about creating environments where staff feel supported, skilled and confident when faced with difficult situations.”

Next Steps for Organisations

For employers looking to improve their workplace safety and behavioural standards, Train-the-Trainer is a powerful starting point. It allows organisations to:

Tailor safety strategies to their real-world settings
Build sustainable in-house expertise
Raise standards across multiple locations or departments

BR Specialists provide the training, materials and ongoing support to help internal teams succeed-and keep that success going through high-quality refreshers.