ISSEE - Experts & Thought Leaders

ISSEE announces that their popular, entry-level courses are available through online learning. Students wishing to join the Explosives Foundation Course (EFC) or Explosives Storage Management Course (ESM) will soon be able to enroll online and complete all learning modules at their own pace through the secure learning management platform and still achieve an accredited qualification through SQA. Explosives Foundation Course Listening to customer feedback, they are pleased that the Explosives Foundation Course is meeting the requirements of customers who are both new to the explosives industry as well as those seeking to maintain their knowledge from a management point of view. To enhance this, ISSEE can now offer the EFC in several formats: Full-time learning at our modern training center, The Copse, in Oxfordshire.  Part-time learning at student’s own pace through the online course plus 2 days of practical training at The Copse. This practical element is a compulsory module for students wishing to qualify for the SQA Award and must be completed within 6 months of completing the online training modules. Theory-only training, through the online learning platform, will lead to an ISSEE Explosive Foundation Knowledge Certificate. Practical only training. This is a 2-day module held at The Copse, for students who have previously qualified in any ISSEE explosives training course or hold a valid IMAS qualification and who wish to update their skills and safety knowledge when handling live explosives. Explosives Storage Management Course ESM courses can be completed entirely online as well as by attending the training center. The course comprises various modules which are studied and assessed at the student's own pace.  ISSEE instructor support is available to support enhanced learning if required. Successful completion of the online course is rewarded with the same SQA qualifications as for the full attendance training package.

ISSEE’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gordon Storey announced that the organization was forced to close their training facilities with the staff working from home as advised by the UK Government. This also meant that the students attending the International Ammunition Technician’s course were also confined, in isolation, to their accommodation. With a determined combination of innovative thought, willingness, and attention to every safety concern of both staff and students, ISSEE has been able to continue the course syllabus through a variety of online systems, social media and webinars. Incorporating on-site practical training ISSEE made arrangements for the course to return to classroom teaching From mid-May 2020, ISSEE made arrangements for the course to return to classroom teaching and successfully incorporated on-site practical training. This move was essential, not just for learning integrity, but to improve the mental well-being of the students and staff as well. Again, with a combination of careful planning, along with the welcomed and measured withdrawal of some of the UK Government’s lockdown restrictions, ISSEE are now planning the final practical elements of their flagship 24-week long course. COVID-19 - Safe Working Policy ISSEE maintained this technical course throughout ‘lockdown’, as it illustrates very clearly the care taken to ensure the safety of students and staff, and through this joint approach to meet mandatory safety requirements, mental well-being and personal health concerns, ISSEE has developed a robust, sensible and fully tested COVID-19 - Safe Working Policy. This policy is adaptable to changes in the UK Government's advice and also any requirements placed upon ISSEE by either host nations accepting the instructors, or special demands placed upon them by customers and students visiting ISSEE training facilities in the United Kingdom. The non-furloughed staff will continue to develop new business opportunities and welcome enquiries from the existing customers, and new clients alike. The time, during this period of ‘lockdown’, has been spent wisely and ISSEE continues to develop new ideas, as well as new ways of working. Adapting to the ‘new ways of working’ These new ideas are coming to fruition and the organization will soon be publishing details of new range of services These new ideas are coming to fruition and the organization will soon be publishing details of their new, exciting range of services that are fully compatible with the ‘new ways of working’ demanded by the COVID-19 environment. ISSEE set out to celebrate 2020 as their 20th Anniversary year. Of course, none of them knew the full effect that the COVID-19 pandemic would have on their anniversary celebrations or, indeed, the very survival of the business. Maintaining business growth ISSEE is determined to maintain their incredible business growth, staff and the trust that their customers place in them, in order to deliver high quality, accredited training in ammunition management, explosives safety and counter terrorism. Their new product services will be testament to this determination. To all the customers, students, agents and colleagues, ISSEE offers immense gratitude for their continued support and good wishes.

The inspiring work that the experienced instructors have been doing at the Counter IED wing of the Humanitarian Peace Support School in Nairobi, Kenya has been featured by Force News. The school opened in 2016, and since then over 1600 students from 15 nations have received training in safe bomb disposal from instructors such as Tony Dedman, who has half a century of experience behind him, and Glyn Hannah, who has a 25-year career spent within Search, IEDD and Conventional Munition Disposal. Tony talks about how important it is to enforce strict training and pass standards - a decision that safeguards lives in this dangerous field. Learning new techniques Over the few years that the training school has existed, techniques have improved and there have been markedly fewer casualties thanks to life-saving skills and procedures.  Forty percent of lessons are taught by the Kenyans themselves, and by 2022 instruction will have passed entirely to the Kenyans, but ISSEE will continue to stand by them during their fight against IEDs and terrorism. Glyn points out that their work is more than just a job; "We start off as instructors, and we leave as friends."