30th June 2025

Arco’s Hull Facility Brings Practical Safety Training to Yorkshire

Arco, the UK and Ireland’s leading safety products and services company, marks the start of its Hull-based safety training courses with dramatic working at height display.

Arco’s Professional Safety Services team showcased their expertise with a dramatic working at height demonstration at the Hull Training Centre in June, , before traversing the ropes to deliver a striking visual display.

This state-of-the-art facility is the latest investment in Arco’s Professional Safety Services, designed to provide critical, hands-on training for workers in high-risk environments across Yorkshire and beyond. Working at height training takes place on Arco’s NDC rooftop, offering participants expert instruction and impressive views across the Humber. The site’s new training unit also houses a dedicated confined space practical facility (pictured).

The Hull centre is an expansion of Arco’s National Distribution Centre (NDC) site, integrating a dedicated learning academy and a new Customer Discovery Centre. This comprehensive hub combines product expertise, industry collaboration, practical and classroom training, with blended learning between both facilities.

Specialising in confined space and working at height, the facility features a confined space labyrinth and safe rooftop access for practical exercises. It also includes two modern classrooms, shower facilities, and onsite parking.

Key Training Courses Available in Hull:

• Confined Space: Working in Low Risk, Entrant and Entry Controller for Medium Risk.

• Working at Height: Courses ranging from rooftop safety to ladder safety.

• First Aid: Emergency First Aid at Work, First Aider at Work, First Aid at Height.

• General Health & Safety: Including Respiratory, IOSH courses and workplace compliance training.

Arco’s confined space and working at height courses are accredited by a range of recognised bodies, including City & Guilds, MATS, IRATA, CITB, and the Ladder Association. Accreditation varies by course, please refer to individual course details for specific awarding bodies.

Arco also offers a blended learning approach, incorporating e-learning, video conferencing, and virtual reality modules. Additionally, Arco Professional Safety Services provides mobile confined space units, a result of a £200,000 investment in 2023, capable of simulating diverse risks for on-site bespoke training.

Jamie Sadler, Commercial Director at Arco Professional Safety Services, commented: “We have invested significantly in our NDC site this year to make safety more accessible for our customers. This new centre of excellence demonstrates Arco’s approach to the future of health and safety; putting innovation, convenience and high-standards at the forefront.

“Working at height and confined spaces remain the most dangerous environments and therefore they require expert training and support. Access to bespoke training that provides people with the correct skills and capabilities to carry out their work safely is essential. Whether it is equipment, training or support, our experienced teams offer a complete solution.”

Steve Dawson, Training Manager from Arco, added: “We are delighted to deliver training that builds valuable skills for local people, supporting both their personal development and the needs of businesses in the community.”

For a full list of training courses available in Hull and to book now, please visit: https://www.arcoservices.co.uk/training

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Arco, the UK’s leading safety expert has opened its latest safety training centre in Hull, to serve businesses in the Yorkshire region and beyond. The new Hull based site is the latest investment in Arco’s Professional Safety Services training facility, tailored to workers across a range of sectors including the highest risk industries.  

This new practical training facility follows Arco’s ongoing investment in its National Distribution Centre (NDC) site to develop its learning academy and brand new Customer Discovery Centre that brings together product expertise, training and industry collaboration under one roof.  

Specialising in confined space and working at height “hands-on” training, the facility includes a confined spaces labyrinth and working at height with, safe access to the rooftop of our National Distribution Centre, alongside a multitude of classroom-based courses, increasing accessibility to critical safety education.  

As part of the Arco Professional Safety Services offering, Arco also provide mobile confined space units for bespoke training in any location. Following Arco’s £200,000 investment in 2023, these  state of the art units can simulate risks in different environments for businesses across Yorkshire.   

The new site also offers courses with a blended learning approach including:  

• Classroom training in Arco’s learning academy 

• E-learning and video Conference   

• Practical Training  

• Virtual Reality Modules  

Jamie Sadler, Commercial Director at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “We have invested significantly in our NDC site this year to make safety more accessible for our customers. This new centre of excellence demonstrates Arco’s approach to the future of health and safety; putting innovation, convenience and high-standards at the forefront.  

“Working at height and confined spaces remains the most dangerous environments and therefore they require expert training and support. Access to bespoke training that provides people with the correct skills and capabilities to carry out their work safely is essential. Whether it is equipment, training or support, our experienced teams offer a complete solution.” 

To view the full list of training courses available in Hull, please visit: https://www.arcoservices.co.uk/training

We had the pleasure of hosting the team from:

BHSEA  (Birmingham Health, Safety & Environment Association):

BHSEA Birmingham Health, Safety & Environment Association | BHSEA were at our Eccleshall site yesterday (10th March) where our Subject Matter Experts, Mike Clayton and Brian Grunes gave practical presentations and demonstrations on Work at Height and Confined Spaces.

The feedback was fantastic and we welcomed the chance to support such a great group of safety professionals.

An IRATA Assessor & Instructor Workshop will be held at Arco Professional Safety Services Ltd, Unit 5, Raleigh Hall Industrial Estate, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, ST21 6JL on Saturday, 15 March 2025 at 09:00 AM. The IRATA compulsory workshop agenda will be followed.

For further booking information, please contact Steven Dawson at Steve.Dawson@arcoservices.co.uk or by telephone 07723023920.

Working at height specialists from Arco Professional Safety Services have provided expert safety support for the return of classic ITV game show You Bet!

The reboot of the show, presented by Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern, features members of the public showing off their extraordinary skills, with celebrity panellists betting on whether each contestant can complete their chosen challenge.

The first episode, which aired on Saturday night on ITV1, featured a “Climber vs Car” challenge, with gym instructor Mila Stanzani scaling the exterior wall of a multi-storey car park while professional driver Michelle Westby raced her to the top and back down again.

Arco’s team of working at height experts, led by Mike Clayton, were on hand at the new Shinfield Studios in Reading to help ensure the safety of everyone involved in the challenge.

The team provided advice to production company Rollercoaster Television on making the climb safe, provided the necessary safety equipment, assisted with protecting a camera operator and managed Mila’s climbing rope to ensure her safety during the challenge.

Mike Clayton, technical lead (working at height) at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “It was an amazing experience for the team to be involved in this challenge for the reboot of You Bet!

“Throughout the years, we’ve been trusted to carry out working at height training and supervision for some thrilling and critical projects, but this was one of the most exciting we have been a part of in recent times. Mila took to the task with a great amount of confidence and the team at ITV were great to work with.”

Sarah Boyce, Head of Production for Rollercoaster, said: “In the early planning stages it was clear we needed experts in working at heights. Arco, being an ITV vetted contractor, were immediately recommended by our inhouse health and safety team.

“They went on to provide expert climbing knowledge and clear advice on how to make this challenge work. They quickly proved to us – and Mila – that they could be relied on 100% and were a big part of the success of this spectacular challenge.”

To find out if Mila won her challenge, watch Episode 1 of You Bet! on demand on ITVX.

Find out more about Arco’s expert working at height services

Arco, the UK and Ireland’s leading safety expert, has reduced its carbon emissions by 21.2 per cent in a single year, its biggest annual decrease to date.

The reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions substantially outperformed Arco’s 5.5 per cent target, and is a significant step towards the company’s goal of net zero emissions by 2045.

The record carbon reduction is one of several significant achievements highlighted in Arco’s 2024 Sustainability Report, released today.

The 2024 report shows considerable progress in the company’s sustainability strategy, A Safe Tomorrow, which sets out Arco’s aims to have a positive impact on people and the planet, while helping customers meet their own sustainability goals

Initiatives such as the installation of solar panels on Arco buildings have helped the company reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and cut its carbon footprint over the past year.

Focusing on efficient use of water in its global operations has also seen Arco reduce its water use by 22.6 per cent.

In 2025, Arco will take this commitment to carbon reduction further by setting science-based targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), including for Scope 3 emissions related to manufacturing, transportation and end-of-life product management.

Responsible Choice

Importantly, Arco reduced carbon and water use while increasing sales of its Responsible Choice ranges of PPE and workwear by 200 per cent. These products feature verifiable sustainability claims or independent certifications, making it easier for businesses to buy more responsible products. 

Arco also hit its annual target for use of “Better Textiles”. These more sustainable textiles made up 10 per cent of Arco’s total textile sales in FY24, and the company aims to increase this to 17.5 per cent by 2025, aligned with The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Textiles 2030 initiative.

Circularity and digital innovation

Working with customers and stakeholders, Arco is driving product circularity, developing closed-loop systems, expanding recycling and take-back schemes and providing garment life-extension services, such as laundry and repair.

The company has also invested in its digital capabilities to improve sustainability, utilising data-driven insights and embedding traceability and transparency in its Responsible hi-vis and workwear ranges.

Less waste and packaging

Arco has continued to reduce packaging and waste, removing single-use plastics and moving to more plain cardboard packaging. In FY24, the company recycled about 90 per cent of cardboard, plastic, clothing and building waste produced at its premises.

Commitment to communities

Activity such as volunteering and other support for charities saw Arco generate £39.3 million of social value in FY24, including £4 million in Hull and East Yorkshire. The company has continued to support long-standing partners such as Macmillan Cancer Support and in May 2024 launched a new partnership with The Mental Health Foundation.

Guy Bruce, chief executive officer at Arco, said: “At Arco, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. From the energy powering our buildings, to the materials that make up our products, to the way we work with our suppliers, we’re always thinking of new ways to help secure a safer tomorrow.

“As Experts in Safety, Arco’s core purpose has always been to keep people safe at work. And with a clear commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, we truly believe we can help secure a safer tomorrow for people, businesses and the planet.”

Download the Arco Sustainability Report 2024 and read more at arco.co.uk/sustainability

Arco Professional Safety Services is installing two new training towers at its safety centre in Manchester, allowing people in the area to access a wider range of training courses in working at height.

Work is under way on the construction of the two towers, one internal and one external, which together with other new working at height systems, will enable the Trafford Park Safety Centre to deliver additional professional training courses, including:

• MATS: Basic Tower Climber and Rescue
• PASMA: Mobile Access Scaffold Towers
• IRATA: Industrial Rope Access

The centre’s training rooms will also be refurbished to accommodate more health and safety courses, including first aid, fire marshal and IOSH training.

Jamie Sadler, commercial director at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “Since opening in January 2022, our Trafford Park Safety Centre has been highly praised by customers, offering a one-stop solution for all their safety needs.

“Building on this success, we’re expanding our training facilities to offer an even wider range of courses, which our customers have been asking us for.

“We can’t wait to welcome everyone to the improved safety centre in the new year.”

The Trafford Park Safety Centre provides purpose-built training facilities for courses in working at height and in confined spaces, as well as health and safety training, alongside a retail store for Arco’s range of PPE, workwear and other safety products.

The upgrades to the internal training area are set to be completed by the end of January 2025, followed by the external tower enhancements. The additional courses will be available to book soon after at www.arcoservices.co.uk/training/

Arco Professional Safety Services has officially launched its safety competition series, ACE (Arco Challenge Event), pushing safety knowledge to the limit by bringing training to life with challenges that mimic real-life scenarios.

The events, located at Arco’s Safety Centres, see teams put through a variety of safety exercises while a team of assessors keep watch and grade each scenario as it unfolds.

Similar to other well-known European rescue events such as Grimp Day and Rope Rescue Day, Arco Challenge Events are designed to encourage collaboration with other teams, build a sense of camaraderie and allow for friendly competition while learning new skills and testing old ones.

The inaugural ACE competition took place in October, focusing on Rope Access challenges that tested teams against each other and the clock, on Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) syllabus tasks such as rescue techniques, access solutions and rigging.

Six teams took part in the event, with Paul Hardman and Bruce Kemp claiming first place, taking home prizes worth over £1,000, including an IRATA training course, premium work-at-height products and an exclusive event goody bag.

Bruce also topped the individual leaderboard in the ascent rescue challenge, sponsored by Safehold, with a time of three minutes and 16 seconds, winning a rescue harness.

Jack Ball, training and consultancy team leader at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “The event was a huge success. The ethos of the event to share knowledge, collaborate with other like-minded technicians, and of course the friendly competition, couldn’t have been upheld any more than it was.

“Every team was keen to take part and learn from others, and this has definitely cemented the desire to host more of these challenge events, so watch this space.

Because of the skill level necessary for the event, each team member was required to be an IRATA-qualified technician, including one qualified to IRATA level 3.

At the closing awards ceremony, Paul Hardman and Bruce Kemp were named Arco Challenge Event Rope Access Champions, a title that will be competed for again in next year’s rope access challenge event. After the success of the first competition, Arco plans to continue the ACE series into 2025. Further events will challenge experts in other areas of health and safety, such as working in confined spaces.

This first ACE rope access competition was sponsored by Safehold, Guardian, Skylotec, Never Let Go, Petzl, Rock Exoctica and Edelrid.

Find out more about our IRATA rope access training.

(Picture credit: Arco Professional Safety Services – Bartek Biela/Rich Amor-Wilkes/Russell Edwards)

Bruce Kemp

Arco Professional Safety Services, the UK’s leading safety products and services provider, is expanding its equipment hire capabilities nationwide with new funding into four fully stocked hire centres in key locations across the UK.

The expansion of hire products will enable customers to access a wider range of hire equipment from leading specialist suppliers, including quality-assured confined space, gas detection, respiratory protective and other fall arrest prevention equipment. All hire orders will be available direct from the Arco Bracknell, Doncaster, Linlithgow and Warrington Safety Centres or can be ordered and collected at local Arco stores via a new collection service.

Arco offers two types of hire solutions, standard hire, for short term requirements with a minimum contract of one week that can be extended as needed and contract hire that is offered for longer terms, up to five years, that also includes inspection, servicing and maintenance of equipment during the hire term.

Alongside this expanded hire proposition, customers can also purchase any of the equipment from Arco’s range of safety products should they require a permanent solution.

Gareth Liptrot, Hire & Maintenance Manager, Arco Professional Safety Services said: “As experts in safety, we are committed to providing a joined-up approach for customers offering accessible, high-quality equipment that can be acquired in the most convenient way.

“Our increased investment in hire stock at our nationwide Safety Centres and our new store collection service demonstrates our commitment to improving customer convenience and will enable greater access to quality stock and ease of service for any job our customers are undertaking.”

To find out more about Arco’s comprehensive hire offering, visit: https://www.arcoservices.co.uk/equipment/equipment-hire