Latest News

We are excited to announce that 8point8 Training has recently joined the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF)! This significant milestone marks a new chapter for 8point8 Training as it joins a network of leading organisations committed to promoting safety and ethical trading within the UK safety industry.

New Qualification Offer for 2023

Download the MATS Spring 2022 Newsletter

8point8 Training Signs Mental Health at Work Commitment To Improve and Support the Mental Health of their Employees and Learners

Download the latest MATS Newsletter featuring a look at the challenges Covid-19 has caused at Mitie, Tim Lord’s retirement and KCOM’s ICT business sale to Nasstar. Download the Newsletter by clicking here.

MATS have now drafted a new Guidance Note GN-014 – Structural Inspections of Masts and Towers and is now inviting comments / suggestions from the industry and other stakeholders to this draft document. The Ask – Please reply with any feedback to: enquiries@matsgroup.info by 20th October 2021.

In order to work at height on MATS Group telecommunication structures during the pandemic the Group allowed extensions to expired certificates to 31st July 21 on the following qualifications: MATS Basic Climber and Rescue Flat roof / Rooftop Access Climbers Medical Please note these extensions have now expired and workers will only be allowed to work at height with in-date certification. The MATS Group continues to monitor the situation, advises caution and recommends following the latest Government and HSE advice to maintain a safe working environment: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/index.htm Keep safe Stewart Mardle – MATS Chairman

We would like to thank everybody who purchased tickets and who agreed to exhibit at our 4th MATS Annual Conference which was originally due to take place in 2020 and then October 2021 due to the Covid-19 situation. Leading up to the event our top priority remains the safety, health and well-being of you all. After consulting with stakeholders, we have decided we have no option but to postpone the conference again to next year. This has not been an easy decision for the group but we felt that in the current uncertainty around the increasing COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalisations and deaths, it is the safest thing to do for all exhibitors and attendees. We have secured a revised date from the Coventry Building Society Arena (formerly Ricoh arena) on Tuesday 26th April 2022. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this third postponement may have caused but having consulted with all key stakeholders we believe a gathering of around 300 people this year simply would not be appropriate. We would like to place on record our thanks to sponsors and exhibitors who have all been very supportive and we look forward to a fantastic event next year when the...

In light of the latest advice by the UK Government on the planned roadmap of easing of lockdown restrictions across the UK, the MATS group has again reviewed the options available to us in order to support our industry in maintaining the infrastructure that enables key services to be provided In order to work at height on MATS Group telecommunications structures, a worker is currently required to have the following in date certificates as a minimum: –  MATS Basic Climber and Rescue  Flat roof / Rooftop Access  Emergency 1st Aid Climbers Medical RF Safety Awareness Whilst the MATS Group acknowledges that some training providers are now offering face to face courses, there may be some challenges still with reduced delegate numbers on a course and overnight accommodation.  The MATS Group will allow conditional extensions as outlined below though please note the following statement: – “In all cases, Employers have a responsibility to ensure that a full risk assessment is carried out on every individual to ensure that the organisation is satisfied they still have the necessary skills and competency to carry out their activities”. MATS Basic Tower Climbing & Rescue- Revised Extension to 31st July 2021 The full revalidation course...