Partnership brings realism to incident training
The Mining Remediation Authority partners with West Nottinghamshire College to run a mock emergency.
A student answering a call during resilience exercise.
In a unique partnership blending education and public service, the Mining Remediation Authority has teamed up with West Nottinghamshire College students to deliver critical incident training.
Students from the Mansfield college recently played the roles of members of the public during a mock emergency scenario, creating a realistic environment for our teams to practice incident contact centre response procedures.
The students took on diverse roles, from concerned residents to elected members, challenging our incident contact centre staff to think on their feet during a simulated mine water flooding incident, testing their supporting resources and training.
As an operational organisation with Category 2 responder status, the authority must be ready to react to issues around the clock across the 3 nations we serve, including critical public safety and environmental incidents.
This hands-on collaboration not only prepares our teams for real-life emergencies but also provides students the chance to complete vital role-play hours required to graduate, bolstering their confidence in the performing arts and increasing their professional readiness.
Hannah Thomas delivering a briefing to students.
Hannah Thomas, resilience manager at the authority, said:
This collaboration is a perfect example of how we can work together with local institutions to achieve shared goals.
It was a great day– not only did we enhance our ability to respond effectively to critical incidents, but we also contributed to the development of talented local students.
It’s the second time the authority, which has its headquarters in Mansfield, has run this type of training session after reaching out to the college to host a similar exercise in July 2024.
The initiative underscores our dedication to community engagement and educational support, while enhancing our own preparedness to protect public safety.
Performing Arts students playing call handlers during resilience exercise.
Bethany Marshall, work placement officer for the college, said:
The students are required to fulfil a certain amount of hours for their course to pass, it’s a mandatory part of their education.
This exercise gave our students a rare opportunity to apply their skills in a professional setting while contributing to public safety.
They’ve enjoyed being part of it and there’s been great camaraderie so it’s helped with team building as well.
The authority looks forward to expanding collaborations like these, ensuring both community engagement and operational excellence remain at the heart of its mission in creating a better future for people and the environment in mining areas.
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