The Mining Remediation Authority partners with West
Nottinghamshire College to run a mock emergency.
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, 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.
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.
