Best Practice = Better Outcomes

14 March, 2023

An EPC-UK Best Practice Seminar

First published in the March 2023 issue of Quarry Management

EPC-UK release their 2023 Best Practice Seminar schedule

Renowned for providing expert industry training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities that are accredited and recognized by the Institute of Quarrying, EPC-UK will once again be hosting their biannual Best Practice Seminars in 2023, at locations across the country and free of charge to all in the industry.

The seminars will offer an informative, sector-leading programme of interactive presentations, providing a valuable source of knowledge for those working in any discipline associated with the commercial explosive and drilling and blasting industries. Each seminar contributes to attendees’ personal CPD programmes, which recognize professionalism through lifelong learning and ensure employees’ skills remain relevant and up to date.

The event itinerary will feature presentations on core topics focusing on safety, competence and optimization of both products and techniques. It will include a Safety Pause on recent global industry incidents and provide updates from the Institute of Quarrying and QNJAC working group on relevant area developments.

EPC-UK’s team of ‘Blast Doctors’ – Dr Geoff Adderley, Dr Liam Bermingham and product specialist Dr Bonny Victor – will deliver elements from their areas of expertise and, together with networking opportunities, a quiz, and a Q&A session, the seminars will create an informative and engaging platform from which delegates can learn and develop. In preparation for the Q&A sessions, delegates are invited to pose their explosive- and industry-related questions to EPC-UK’s team of experts in advance when booking in.

Seminar dates and locations 2023

11 May – Westerwood Hotel, Cumbernauld, Scotland
17 May – The Nottingham Belfry, Nottinghamshire
24 May – Low Wood Bay Hotel, Ambleside, Cumbria
7 June – Coldra Court Hotel, Newport, Wales
14 June – Bedruthan Hotel & Spa, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall.

Upon completion of the seminar, all attendees will receive a certificate of recognition for 6h CPD, accredited by the Institute of Quarrying. During the day they will also be able to network with peers and share best practice experiences.

Seminar spaces are popular and limited. To secure a place and pose a potential question, email your date/location request and contact details to: Gabrielle.Fasey@epc-groupe.co.uk

In a year when EPC-UK plan to place increasing focus on CPD and its personal and professional benefits, the company’s general manager of blasting and explosives, Ben Coppock, explained the significance of the sessions and what he believes they serve to deliver and develop: ‘By enabling and increasing CPD for everyone across our industry, we’re working to create a high level of sector competence that can benefit us all. The EPC-UK Best Practice Seminars demonstrate recognized routes to achieving that competence across various roles and our company’s commitment to regularly refreshing skill knowledge, progressing new ideas and encouraging good practice to improve outcomes industry-wide.’

Mr Coppock continued: ‘Anyone working within the drilling and blasting and commercial explosives sector, from operations and engineering to procurement and safety, is invited to attend. We warmly welcome our customers and stakeholders too, as by developing their sector knowledge, our collaborative conversations regarding supply, performance and optimization further benefit overall operations and team interactions become smoother.

‘For our SPIRIT values of Safety, Passion, Integrity, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork to be evident and effective out in the field, we need to make building industry knowledge and expertise a priority – something the EPC-UK Best Practice Seminars have the scope to deliver.’

For more information visit: www.epc-groupe.co.uk/seminars/