St Andrew’s First Aid training courses for workplaces, childcare settings and community organisations across Scotland. St Andrew’s First Aid is Scotland’s own first aid charity, delivering HSE-compliant first aid, mental health and fire safety training to organisations throughout the country.
It also carries the broadest course range of the three national first aid charities listed on this site — first aid, paediatric, AED and CPR, mental health at two levels, fire marshal and moving and handling — which makes it a practical single source for a Scottish employer covering several requirements at once.
Classroom and on-site delivery are available at venues across Scotland.
Scotland What differs north of the border
First aid law is the same. The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 apply across Great Britain, so EFAW and FAW qualifications gained in Scotland are recognised by employers anywhere in the UK. If you operate on both sides of the border, a Scottish certificate needs no conversion.
Fire safety law is not. Scottish fire safety duties arise under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 — not the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which applies in England and Wales. The practical duties are broadly similar, but a fire risk assessment or policy citing the wrong legislation is an easy thing for an inspector to notice.
First aid courses
Which level you need comes from your first aid needs assessment rather than headcount alone. All certificates are valid for three years.
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)
One-day HSE-compliant course for nominated first aiders in lower-hazard workplaces such as offices, shops and call centres. Equips learners with the essential skills to respond confidently to a workplace emergency.
- CPR and AED use
- Choking — adult and child
- Unresponsive casualty and recovery position
- Bleeding control and wound management
- Shock, burns and minor injuries
First Aid at Work (FAW)
Comprehensive three-day HSE-compliant course, normally identified for higher-hazard workplaces and larger organisations. Covers the full EFAW syllabus plus a wider range of emergency scenarios and injury management.
- Everything in EFAW, plus
- Managing an incident and casualty assessment
- Fractures, spinal injuries and dislocations
- Chest injuries and breathing difficulties
- Anaphylaxis, seizures, stroke and diabetic emergencies
- Eye injuries and poisoning
First Aid at Work Requalification (FAWR)
Two-day requalification course for those renewing an existing FAW certificate. Updates practical skills and refreshes knowledge against current HSE guidance.
Book it before your three-year certificate expires. Once lapsed, requalification is no longer available and the full three-day FAW must be retaken — two days becomes three, at greater cost and more time off site.
Paediatric First Aid
Training for anyone working with babies and children — childminders, nursery staff, teachers and sports coaches. Provides the knowledge and confidence to handle a paediatric emergency.
- Infant and child CPR
- Choking — infant and child
- Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
- Illness and injury management
- Recovery position for children
Using an AED Including CPR
Half-day practical course covering use of an automated external defibrillator alongside CPR. Worth adding wherever a workplace has installed an AED — having the device and nobody confident to use it is a common gap.
Mental health courses
Two levels, so you can train a small number of leads properly and give wider awareness to everyone else. HSE guidance has asked employers to consider mental health within the first aid needs assessment since 2018, reinforced in the 2024 update to L74 — though there is no legal requirement to appoint mental health first aiders.
Leading First Aid for Mental Health
The fuller two-day course, for those taking a lead role in workplace mental health provision. Goes beyond recognition into crisis response and shaping the wider approach.
- Recognising common mental health conditions
- How to have a supportive first aid conversation
- Crisis first aid — suicide, self-harm and panic attacks
- Signposting to professional support services
- Developing a mentally healthy workplace
First Aid for Mental Health
One-day course teaching how to recognise mental health difficulty in colleagues, provide initial support and guide them to the right professional help. Suits wider team rollout as part of a workplace wellbeing programme.
Fire safety and workplace courses
Fire Marshal Training
Half-day course for nominated fire marshals and wardens, covering prevention, evacuation and extinguisher use. Delivered against Scottish fire safety duties under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
- Scottish fire safety legislation and duty holders
- How fires start, spread and behave
- Fire prevention and risk reduction
- Evacuation procedures and assembly points
- Fire extinguisher types and safe use
Moving and Handling Principles
Practical techniques and underlying principles for safe manual handling, supporting compliance with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. Particularly relevant in care, healthcare and hospitality, where handling injuries are among the most common causes of absence.
- Legal requirements for manual handling
- Risk assessment principles
- Safe lifting and carrying techniques
- Ergonomic principles and injury prevention
Who should attend
St Andrew’s First Aid questions
Is a St Andrew’s certificate valid outside Scotland?
Yes. The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 apply across Great Britain, so EFAW and FAW qualifications gained with St Andrew’s are recognised by employers throughout the UK. If a member of staff transfers to an English or Welsh site, the certificate travels with them and needs no conversion.
Why choose St Andrew’s over St John Ambulance or British Red Cross?
For a Scottish employer, venue coverage and availability are usually the deciding factors, and St Andrew’s is the dedicated Scottish provider. It also carries the broadest range on this site — first aid, paediatric, AED, mental health at two levels, fire marshal and moving and handling — which is useful if you are covering several requirements at once. The qualification itself carries the same weight whichever provider you choose. Compare all three on our first aid training page.
Does Scottish fire safety law differ from England and Wales?
Yes. Scotland is covered by the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, rather than the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The duties are broadly comparable — assess the risk, put controls in place, plan for evacuation — but the legislation cited in your fire risk assessment and policy should be the Scottish one.
EFAW or FAW — which do we need?
It comes from your first aid needs assessment rather than headcount alone. EFAW suits lower-hazard workplaces; FAW is normally identified where the work itself could cause more serious injury — machinery, chemicals, working at height, vehicles. Our free needs assessment tool works it out in a couple of minutes.
What happens if our FAW certificate has expired?
Requalification is no longer available and the full three-day FAW course must be retaken. There is no retrospective renewal, so diary the expiry a few months ahead — venue availability in Scotland is more concentrated than in England, and popular dates book up.
Related first aid training
Envico is an independent training intermediary. We connect delegates with accredited training providers and do not deliver or accredit training ourselves. This page is general guidance and does not replace the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, or your own risk assessments.
St Andrew’s First Aid is Scotland’s leading first aid training charity with over a century of lifesaving experience and expertise. As a voluntary aid society recognised by the Health and Safety Executive, St Andrew’s First Aid delivers regulated first aid training to workplaces, childcare settings, sports clubs and community organisations across Scotland.
All courses are designed and delivered entirely by St Andrew’s First Aid instructors, ensuring consistent quality and compliance with current HSE standards. Certificates are recognised by employers across the UK and training can be arranged at classroom venues throughout Scotland or on-site at your premises.
Why choose St Andrew’s First Aid
Over a century of expertise
St Andrew’s First Aid has been training people in Scotland for over 100 years — bringing unmatched depth of experience to every course.
HSE recognised
St Andrew’s First Aid is one of the voluntary aid societies recognised by the HSE to deliver regulated first aid at work qualifications.
Scotland-wide coverage
Training centres and classroom venues across Scotland, with on-site delivery available for organisations wanting training at their own premises.
Full range of courses
From workplace first aid and paediatric first aid to mental health first aid, fire marshal training and moving and handling — all from one trusted provider.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about St Andrew’s First Aid training courses.