Celebrating its twelfth year, Gas Safety Week returns in September with two of the industry’s biggest names, First Choice Group and Hobart Service announcing a partnership with the aim of driving gas safety across our industry.

Coordinated nationally by the Gas Safe Register, the registration body appointed by the Health and Safety Executive to manage the register of qualified gas engineers in the UK, Isle of Man and Guernsey, Gas Safety Week provides a platform for the gas industry, consumer organisations and individuals to focus communications on gas safety and best practice. The week, which this year runs from the 12^th – 18^th September, will provide a focal point for advice, guidance and support for consumers, operators, manufacturers and service providers alike.

Showing support once again, First Choice Group is committed to maintaining safety standards across the industry. For 2022, First Choice is partnering with Hobart Service, a leading catering equipment service provider. Together, the partnership will raise industry-specific awareness of the importance of proper training, certification, servicing and maintenance.

Hobart UK, a leading manufacturer of cooking, warewashing, food preparation and waste technology, offers nationwide service and support packages for operators. From expert advice and installation to preventative maintenance and comprehensive service packages. Highly experienced, Hobart Service’s engineers undergo regular training, ensuring their knowledge and skills are kept up to date.

A longstanding partner, Hobart Service works with First Choice Training, the dedicated training arm of First Choice Group to ensure its engineers and technicians are ACS Gas Accredited. Approved to deliver recognised, catering-specific assessments, First Choice Group is the only ACS centre in the UK specialising purely in catering assessments. This means technicians, such as those from Hobart Service are assessed on industry-specific equipment.

On Gas Safety Week, Head of the Training Division at First Choice, Martin Dagnall comments:

“First Choice Group places safety, and in particular, gas safety as one of our highest priorities. Protecting staff working in kitchens, customers dining out and wider industry suppliers, it is essential that legally qualified, accredited and registered engineers are used to undertake any gas work. Certified by LCL Awards, First Choice Training regularly runs courses and undertakes assessments as part of the national Accredited Certification Scheme for Gas Fitting Operatives (ACS), and also hosts the Managed Learning Programme for New Gas Engineers.

We are delighted to be joining forces with the team from Hobart Service to support and raise awareness of Gas Safety Week 2022. Our aim is to help operators to understand the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning, when not correctly installed.”

Matt Knowles, Quality, Health and Safety Manager at Hobart Service UK reinforces the message around Gas Safety Week, saying:

“Using gas safe engineers is crucial and something that should be the minimum benchmark within the foodservice sector. To support the actions of the Gas Safe Register and the messaging around Gas Safety Week 2022, Hobart Service is delighted to be partnering with First Choice Group. We’re doing our bit to remind businesses of their responsibility to keep their customers and staff safe.

At Hobart UK, we’re committed to keeping all our engineers and technicians aligned with the ACA Gas Accreditation scheme – something that we work with First Choice Training, their expert assessors and their state-of-the-art training facilities to achieve.”

As an approved supplier for Hobart UK, First Choice Group stocks a full range of genuine OEM gas safe parts, accessories and consumables many of which are available on same-day dispatch, next day delivery as standard*. More information can be found on the First Choice Group website or app.

To find out more about Gas Safety Week and Gas Safe Register, including details of how to find a registered engineer in your area, visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk, or follow @GasSafeRegister on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Search #GSW22 and #GasSafetyWeek for the latest updates and advice throughout the week.