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This article draws further attention to our Livingston Open Day Inauguration, the day marked the official opening of our newly acquired Livingston Centre, reinforcing our commitment to providing superior practical facilities necessary for facilitating high-quality technical training.
The significance of the day was underscored by the presence of Apave senior officials, flying in from France to inaugurate the centre, including Apave CEO Philippe Maillard. The day consisted of insightful industry speakers, comprehensive facility tours and invaluable professional networking.
A Strategic Acquisition
The inauguration was more than just a ribbon-cutting. It was a powerful statement on the Apave Group’s commitment to the UK market and to technical excellence worldwide. As one of the Group’s most recent major acquisitions, PPL Training is a pivotal piece of this larger, global strategy.
This was elevated by the presence and words of Apave CEO Philippe Maillard, who outlined the ambitious strategic vision for the United Kingdom. This partnership significantly strengthens Apave’s training presence across Europe and Overseas, using our centres in York, Slough, and Livingston as a platform for growth.
Training Capabilities
Expanding on the success of our York and Slough locations, the Livingston centre significantly increases our technical capabilities by offering training across six core technical areas that are all under one roof.
Alongside PPL Training’s established centres in York and Slough, the new Livingston facility offers a consolidated platform for excellence. Delegates can now access training across:
- Mechanical and Electrical Safe Systems of Work
- Mechanical and Electrical Technical
- HTM Healthcare Estates and Facilities
- F-Gas Handling
- Legionella (Water Hygiene)
- Fire Safety
The Power of Practical Facilities
This new Livingston Centre is not just a larger space; it represents a major investment in the quality of practical facilities essential for enhancing technical training.
Spanning over 12,000 sq ft, the expansive size and design of the centre allow us to create highly realistic training environments. This enables us to simulate complex practical scenarios with greater accuracy and detail, directly helping delegates gain the confidence, competence, and real-world readiness required to manage and maintain essential systems within modern facilities.
This investment is key to ensuring that every PPL Training course remains rooted in real-life application, truly preparing our delegates for the technical demands of the workplace.
Key Stakeholders in the Northern Regions
The significance of the Livingston Open Day was deeply reflected in the calibre of the guest list, which served as a powerful testament to our strong, existing client relationships. The day invited key stakeholders and decision-makers from the northern regions, including Edinburgh Airport Authorising Engineers, Edinburgh University Officials, Local Councillors, and IHEEM Directors. Their presence was not just a show of support for PPL Training and Apave’s new venture, but a clear endorsement of our shared commitment to high standards, reinforcing the critical need for this type of high-quality, practically focused training facility directly in the Scottish region.
Voices of the Industry: Key Speeches and Presentations
The Open Day provided an excellent platform for insightful speeches that reinforced the centre’s role within the wider industry. We had the pleasure of hearing from industry professionals, including Mark Jenkins, IWFM Deputy Chair and Director of the GSH Group and Shaun Sutton, Senior Partner at Ventilation Compliance Services, who shared valuable perspectives on the future and changes to the FM world and compliance. Highlighting the crucial role of high-quality, hands-on training in maintaining safety standards and developing a skilled workforce, demonstrating broad industry support. Their attendance truly showcased a collective dedication to technical excellence.
Subsidiary Support
The Open Day was a compelling demonstration of Apave’s unified strength in the UK. Representatives from our subsidiaries, making an influential presence PIM, Apave UK (IRISNDT), and Apave UK (PARC) were in attendance to showcase the comprehensive range of expertise now available under Apave UK. Internal directors who form fellow subsidiary groups, travelled domestically, Managing Directors and Operations Directors flew in from the far ends to attend the Open Day in strong support.
This unified front was further highlighted by presentations from Martin Worth from PIM and Lee Richardson from Apave UK (IRSNDT), who spoke on behalf of their respective subsidiaries, demonstrating how our collective capabilities in inspection, testing, and training provide clients with a complete, integrated approach to industrial and operational risk management.
Experience the Livingston Centre
Backed by the global strength of Apave, invest in your team’s technical skills. We invite you to our 12,000 sq ft of dedicated practical training space. Don’t settle for theoretical knowledge; experience a centre designed for real-world readiness.
From the presence of CEO Philippe Maillard and the unified support of our UK subsidiaries, the message is clear: we are committed to providing the highest calibre of training certification. We extend our sincere thanks to our valued clients and industry partners whose presence affirmed the critical need for this new facility. The centre is now operational, setting a new standard for practical facilities across the UK and overseas.
