Training and Development Academy, Aintree

Briefly describe the initiative/ project/service; please include your aims and objectives 

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority (MFRA) Have completed the development of a £40m state of the art Multi pump Fire & Rescue station, Training and Development Academy and National Centre of Excellence at Aintree Long Lane. The single Largest infrastructure project the Authority has ever undertaken, aims to enhance operational response times and improve preparedness against emerging risks and threats. The new facilities feature a range of modern and immersive training environments to simulate real -life incidents, ensuring personnel maintain and enhance their skills. This new academy will, quite literally, help save lives locally within Merseyside, Nationally and internationally. The MFRA’s purpose is to serve, protect, and keep our local community safe, and this new training facility will allow us to do this in the best and most efficient way possible. The site is home to the NFCC National Resilience Assurance Team as well as the UK International search and rescue team. 

What are the key achievements? 

Facilities at the site include immersive, realistic training zones such as a six storey high-rise building, a row of terraced houses, a motorway setting, specialist vehicle garages, a High-Volume Pump (HVP) training area, rubble pile for search and rescue training and a suite of practical training classrooms. A purpose-built command and control suite will enable scope to train for a range of incidents, to major incidents involving multiple agencies. 

The National Resilience Centre of Excellence forms part of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service’s (MFRS) new Training and Development Academy in Aintree, Liverpool. The Centre will be used to coordinate the national response from f ire and rescue services to large scale events whilst equipping firefighters with the training and skills needed to respond to these type of incidents whenever and wherever they occur. 

Chief Fire Officer for Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Phil Garrigan, said: “The establishment of the National Resilience Centre of Excellence here in Merseyside acknowledges the contribution the Service makes every day in the field of national resilience and marks a significant milestone in our ambition to further enhance the fire and rescue services response to national emergencies – ensuring the safety and security of communities across the country. “I am genuinely thrilled that the Merseyside Fire Authority and Home Office, alongside the National Fire Chiefs Council, had the foresight to see what was possible and took the courageous decision to support this vision, creating a lasting legacy which recognises the vital role of the fire and rescue services plays in a wide range of devastating and disruptive incidents”. 

National Fire Chief Council Chair, Mark Hardingham, said: “The launch of the National Resilience Centre of Excellence marks a significant advancement in our capacity to train and prepare firefighters for the most challenging and catastrophic events which are the effect of climate change, flooding, wildfires, and conflict – whether through terror or the increasing risk of war. “This unique facility – delivered in Merseyside in collaboration with every fire and rescue service in the UK – will ensure our firefighters are exceptionally well-prepared to protect the public and further strengthen our National Resilience framework.” Minister of State, The Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP, said: “Congratulations to the National Resilience team and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, who have brought this bold vision to life through their ongoing dedication and commitment to public safety. “This facility will go a long way in making our communities safer, and ensure our brave firefighters are trained to the highest standards to continue their heroic efforts saving lives. “Today marks the beginning of meaningful improvements to fire services across the country, and I am looking forward to building strong relationships with the sector to drive change and consistency within all communities.” 

How Innovative is your initiative? 

With state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technology, the training and development academy will provide Merseyside’s firefighters with the knowledge and skills they need to face the challenges of a modern fire and rescue service. From simulated fire scenarios to advanced medical training, its personnel will be equipped to handle any situation with skill, adeptness, and professionalism. 

The multifunctional site will allow MFRS to deliver a multitude of incidents at the same time, exponentially improving the Service’s ability to train against foreseeable risk and emerging threats in conditions as close to real incidents as possible. The progressive vision for the facility includes immersive, realistic training zones such as a six-storey high-rise building, a row of terraced houses, a motorway setting, specialist vehicle garages, a High-Volume Pump (HVP) training area and a suite of practical training classrooms. A purpose built command and control suite will enable scope to train for a range of incidents, simulating small scale incidents through to major incidents involving multiple agencies. 

The site has been developed sustainably to allow MFRA to continue on its route map to achieve Net Zero by 2040 whilst increasing bio net diversity. 

What are the key learning points? 

The ability of the main contractor Wates to adapt creatively to the specificities of the brief was especially impressive. The team partnered with a number of specialist sub contracts to utilise and design specialist simulators such as pre-cast drainage rings to create underground tunnels for specialised training. The Urban Search and Rescue Team heavily engaged with the Wates team and supply chain to create a collapsed building scenario suitable for training that went above and beyond their expectations. Wates sourced unused train carriages, buffers and tracks from various local organisations to create this immersive training experience. 

Furthermore, the Wates team set an excellent standard for ESG leadership in the Built Environment industry. Through every step of this build, they engaged our local community. 

Providing opportunities for everyone, from the 359 hours of training and development mentoring young people straight out of school, to employing those furthest from the workforce, to engaging with the local supply chain. The team’s mark on our local community has been incredibly positive, hiring 523 local people within a 30-mile radius, and one we are very grateful for. We were also thrilled when one of the Wates team members became a finalist for Female Quantity Surveyor of the Year in the Women in Construction and Engineering Awards. 

The Wates team were also exemplary in their determination to keep construction’s impact on the natural environment to a minimum. They undertook an extensive ground remediation strategy in line with the Environmental Agency to ensure that minimal materials went to waste. 

On a broader level, the Wates team have helped to develop high construction standards that set an appropriate bar for the Built Environment industry. The MFRA believes the team have shown incredible leadership with their prioritisation of safety standards and procurement from the highest quality supply chains, and we hope that appreciation of their success encourages other construction companies to look to them for guidance. 

Additional Comments 

We commissioned a number of videos to show the site and a locally artist / poet John Roberts as part of the 50th year and opening celebrations to show the site and speak of the heart and soul of the service: 

Site – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIqdGUQ-GDU&t=28s 

Poet – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZJ6b0wFN_E