Astutis Partners With St John Ambulance on New First Aid Course Range

Workplace incidents do not wait for the right person to be in the room. Every employer has a legal duty to make sure trained first aiders are on hand, and a growing responsibility to support mental wellbeing with the same seriousness. Our new partnership with St John Ambulance helps you meet both.

We have launched a new range of five First Aid and Mental Health courses, delivered with St John Ambulance, the UK’s best-known first aid charity. The range gives organisations one trusted route to physical first aid cover, mental health first aid, and peer-led wellbeing support.

Our Managing Director at Astutis, Steve Terry, had this to say about the announcement:

“First aid provision and mental health support are two of the clearest duty-of-care responsibilities an employer carries today, and they are too often handled in isolation. Partnering with St John Ambulance lets us offer both through one trusted route, so employers can build the cover they need without piecing it together from different providers.”

Why Are We Launching This Now?

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations require every employer to provide adequate first aid arrangements. What “adequate” looks like depends on the workplace, but the duty itself applies to every business. Alongside this, employers face rising expectations to address mental health on equal footing with physical safety, both as a legal duty of care and as a practical lever for engagement, retention, and performance.

Bringing St John Ambulance into our delivery model lets us answer both needs through one provider, one booking process, and one consistent standard.

What Does the New Course Range Cover?

The range pairs three workplace first aid courses with two mental health programmes. All five carry St John Ambulance certification, valid for three years.

• First Aid at Work (3 days): Full first aider training for medium and higher-risk environments, from construction to manufacturing. Covers CPR, AED use, response to stroke, choking, bleeding, burns, and the wider range of workplace medical emergencies.
• First Aid at Work Requalification (2 days): A focused refresher for existing first aiders renewing a valid certificate.
• Emergency First Aid at Work (1 day): A practical one-day course for low-risk workplaces such as offices, retail, and hospitality. Designed for nominated first aiders who need core emergency skills quickly.
• Mental Health First Aid (2 days): Recognise the signs of mental ill health, hold a supportive conversation, and signpost colleagues to the right help. Includes an optional assessment route to the Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid (RQF).
• Mental Health Advocate (1 day): A discussion-led course for employees, line managers, and team leaders who want to actively support wellbeing day to day, complementing existing Mental Health First Aid provision.

What Does the Partnership with St. John Ambulance Mean for Learners?

Every course in the range builds on St John Ambulance’s training standards and is assessed against them. Learners earn a St John Ambulance certificate, valid for three years, and the three physical first aid courses include Good Samaritan insurance, so learners can act on what they have learned beyond the workplace, not only inside it.

For employers, this means a recognisable, transferable certification that travels with the employee and stands up to scrutiny in audit, insurance, and tender contexts.

Who Should Consider Booking?

Most organisations already sit somewhere on this map. If you employ people in any setting, you have a first aid duty to meet. The questions are usually about scope and depth:

• If your workplace is lower-risk, such as offices, retail, or hospitality, Emergency First Aid at Work covers the essentials.
• If your workplace involves higher hazards, such as construction, warehousing, or manufacturing, First Aid at Work gives the depth you need.
• If you already have qualified first aiders coming up for renewal, the Requalification course keeps them current without retreading the full syllabus.
• If you want to build mental health support alongside physical first aid, pair either physical course with Mental Health First Aid for trained responders, or Mental Health Advocate for wider peer support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Courses Accredited?

Yes. All five courses are delivered with St John Ambulance and are CPD certified. Each learner receives a St John Ambulance certificate, valid for three years.

Can the Courses Be Delivered on Our Site?

Yes. Every course in the range is available as in-company delivery, alongside scheduled face-to-face classroom dates.

Do the Certificates Cover Learners Outside of Work?

The three physical first aid courses (First Aid at Work, Requalification, and Emergency First Aid at Work) include Good Samaritan insurance, so learners can apply their skills outside the workplace.

What Is the Difference Between Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocate?

Mental Health First Aid trains designated responders to recognise mental ill health and offer structured support. Mental Health Advocate is broader and discussion-led, building day-to-day wellbeing skills across a wider group of employees. The two are designed to work together.

How Quickly Can We Book a Course?

The full range is bookable now. Contact our team to discuss scheduled dates or in-company delivery for your organisation.

Talk to Us About Your First Aid Provision

If you are reviewing your first aid arrangements or looking to add structured mental health support alongside them, we can help you map the right combination of courses for your organisation. Visit the Astutis Short Courses section of our website below to browse our new course collaboration.