Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, celebrated the official opening of its brand new Safety Centre last month at Westwood Business Park, Coventry.

To help mark the occasion, paralympian David Clarke joined forces with Andy Taylor, the UK and Ireland vice president of the Schneider Electric Energy and Services business, to officially open the centre on 23 September. Other attendees included local and national customers and national accreditation bodies, such as City & Guilds and St John’s Ambulance.

The new facility will offer electrical contractors, engineers and those working with electrical equipment the opportunity to learn more about electrical and occupational safety in a controlled and safe environment.

David Brady, Schneider Electric safety manager, commented: “It’s easy to become complacent about electricity when it’s so readily available but with it comes many dangers. For many, working within the electrical industry and for those that help to keep our lights on, it’s imperative that they stay abreast of the latest legislation, procedures and processes relating to electrical safety. A good safety culture means that everyone goes home at the end of the working day.

“The Schneider Electric Safety Centre is designed with this in mind, providing a platform for industry to work safely, build an understanding of how the technology operates, how to maintain it and to crucially know what to do should something go wrong.”

Already open for training, the centre has received significant investment and now comes equipped with modern classroom equipment, a new enclosed substation for competent persons and substation access training and new low voltage and high voltage equipment.

Mr Clarke said: “As a child, football wasn’t a sport for the blind, but we learnt interesting new ways to play the game such as using rice and then bearings inside the ball so we could hear where it was. Over the years and through experience, the key thing I have learnt about football and safety is that it must be practical.

“What I have seen here today, at the new Safety Centre here in Coventry, is the unbounded enthusiasm of the Schneider Electric team to work with customers, creating bespoke courses and solutions that meet their individual needs.”

The Safety Centre will offer a range of courses including Authorised Persons Offers, First Aid, Customised Electrical Safety Training, as well as risk assessments. In total, the centre has over 54 pieces of high voltage equipment and now features three rings of practical training.

For further information, please visit www.schneider-electric.com/uk.