A Training Service Trusted in Compliance: Certora returns to Hillhead with Expanded Capability for 2026  

Steve Hamar

Hillhead has long been the place where training, competence and operational reality meet — and in 2026, Certora Training returns for its eighth appearance, bringing an expanded portfolio and a renewed commitment to supporting the minerals processing and extractives industry.

With more than 30 years’ experience, Certora has become one of the UK’s most trusted providers of training, qualifications and assessment services. The company supports businesses of every size in maintaining compliance with legislation, industry standards and best practice, ensuring that every employee’s journey to competence is structured, supported and measurable.

“Safety and competence remain at the heart of everything we do,” explains Managing Director, Emily Bonsall. “We remain committed to listening to our customers and their learners to deliver the most trusted training service to UK businesses.”

This commitment is reinforced through close collaboration with the UK’s leading standard setting bodies — IPAF, CIWM, MPQC, PASMA, EU Skills, NPORS and LANTRA — ensuring that every course delivered is current, relevant, and aligned with real‑world operational demands.

Industry‑Specific Training and Qualifications

Certora specialises in equipment operator training and on‑site assessment to all UK industries including the extractives, waste, construction, and land‑based sectors. Alongside plant and equipment training, the company delivers CIWM, MPQC, LANTRA and GQA vocational qualifications, from Level 2 through to Level 7.

These qualifications are designed not only to build knowledge and develop skills, but also to provide robust evidence of workplace competence — a critical requirement for safety‑critical industries.

Technology plays a key role in Certora’s delivery model. The company’s digital systems and e‑portfolio platform allow learners to build evidence as they work, while giving managers real‑time visibility of progress. This combination of skilled people and smart systems ensures high‑quality service at competitive prices.

What’s New for 2026

Certora’s ethos is simple: never stand still. The company continues to evolve its services to ensure customers have access to a complete range of training and qualifications that reflect the diverse needs of modern operations.

For 2026, Certora is introducing:

• 16 new LANTRA NVQ qualifications
• The full NPORS Route to Competence, enabling operators to achieve the NPORS CSCS Blue Competent Operator Card
• New eLearning courses, including COTC Refresher, Geotechnical Awareness and Working at Height Awareness

These additions significantly strengthen Certora’s national capability across plant operations, land‑based industries, environmental management, and construction.

Compliance in One Call: Certora’s Managed Service

As training requirements become more complex, more organisations are turning to Certora’s Managed Service — a fully administered, transparent and professionally managed training solution.

Ideal for businesses operating multiple sites, contractors and qualification routes, the Managed Service provides a single point of contact for all operational training needs.

Certora’s Sourced Training team:

• Sources training beyond Certora’s core specialisms — from fire safety to drone operations and confined space to conflict management — coordinating training across a national network of 180+ specialist providers
• Manages administration, certification and record keeping, uploading completion data directly into customer LMS systems
• Provides a consistent, auditable, organisation‑wide view of competence with accurate training reporting

For many customers, this service has become an essential part of maintaining compliance and reducing administrative stress and supply chain costs.

Visit Certora at Hillhead — Stand PA20

Hillhead remains the perfect environment to explore training and competence in the same setting where skills are applied every day. The Certora team will be on Stand PA20, ready to discuss operator training, qualifications, assessments, competency schemes and Managed Service solutions.

Become an Instructor, Assessor or IQA with Certora 

Certora is actively seeking experienced operatives who are interested in progressing into instructor, assessor or IQA roles. With demand for high quality training continuing to grow, the company is expanding its network of industry professionals who want to share their expertise and support the next generation of operators.

Training and Compliance – Welcome Steve 

Certora is also pleased to welcome Steve Hamar, formerly of Heidelberg, as the company’s new Northern Training and Compliance Manager. With more than 30 years’ experience in health and safety and operational training, Steve joins Certora’s operational team to evolve training courses, support industry standards and enhance the quality of service delivery.