Belay Rope Access
Belay Rope Access has worked closely with the Rampion team since its arrival in Newhaven Port, running equipment familiarisation courses for technicians and management and making its facility available for specialist Actsafe training.
The company started with IRATA rope access training but moved on to become accredited GWO trainers when it became clear there would be a market on the south coast. Belay Rope Access moved to Newhaven Port in 2016 to be close to the Rampion construction base, finding a home next to Seahaven Maritime, which trains people requiring the STCW-95 qualification. The firms are now partners in developing an advanced confined space and rescue training facility in the port.
Rampion’s arrival enabled Belay Rope Access to hire two apprentices from the town as well as six local freelance instructors, four of whom also worked with Rampion as rope access maintenance technicians.
Iain Tindall, Owner and Lead Instructor at Belay Rope Access said:
GWO training is now around 80 per cent of my business and turnover has grown by at least 200 per cent. Without Rampion it would have been much harder to draw business here and raise awareness.
By creating this business on the south coast, we have drawn new people from a diverse range of backgrounds into the industry, to feed the demand for skilled personnel. In addition we have trained people from other wind industry companies, with those contacts leading to more business. For example, through contact with the Galloper and Greater Gabbard operations team we now plan to run courses in Colchester.
Belay Rope Access has worked with both Rampion directly and its contractors, including turbine supplier Mitsubishi Vestas Offshore Wind (MVOW). As well as planned training, the company has provided last minute refresher courses to technicians when they are not able to go to sea due to weather.
Future plans include the development of further courses specific for the operations and maintenance phase.
