Get ready for the control room revolution

APD Communications has launched a series of online workshops to guide control room leaders through major changes that will transform how their teams operate and communicate

The clock is ticking towards the phased introduction of the revolutionary Emergency Services Network (ESN), a new, state-of-the-art LTE communications network for the UK’s emergency services.

APD is at the cutting edge of software development for LTE internationally and is delivering a major contract awarded by the Home Office earlier this year to enable blue light organisations and other public services to move to the new network.

Now, as emergency services organisations work towards ESN going live within the next 18 months, APD is running a series of interactive online workshops to guide critical control room operations and teams through the changes.

The workshops are part of a 12-month programme to guide control rooms to ready for ESN. They are aimed at senior emergency services officers with responsibility for contact, command and control operations, as well as communications and HR colleagues.

Content will be tailored to include how those managing the transition can help their control room teams to adapt, as well as how they roll out new devices, with APD providing step-by-step support, advice and reassurance on managing such a significant technical, operational and cultural change.

Mike Isherwood said: “We know emergency services and organisations in the critical control field are excited by this change, but that they also appreciate the scale and risks associated with the challenge.

“We have been working with LTE and control room change for many years and have built up considerable knowledge and expertise. We want to share that with people who are focused on making the change a success within their organisations.

“We’ve planned this series of workshops such that the content can be shaped by the participants as they evolve. We’re here to help those who take part to feel confident in every aspect of the transition – we’re on a journey together.

“It would be great if delegates can join for the full programme, but we’re structuring it so they can easily catch up with previous sessions. We will also provide useful resources for participants to take away and work through to check they’re on track for going live.”

The online workshops, run through Microsoft Teams live events, launched in July with over 50 emergency services organisations represented.

They will take place on the first Thursday of every month, with the next session scheduled for 6 August, and then again at the beginning of September. Each session will run for an hour, followed by 30 minutes of questions.

At the end of the workshops, a resource pack will be available to download that covers the key takeaways and next steps for delegates to consider when getting ready for ESN in their organisations.

Participants will be able to submit questions in advance of each workshop and take part in live discussions, as well as participating in a live Q&A for everyone involved.

Participation is open to all organisations affected by the ESN transition. Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

To register for the first workshop, go to www.apdcomms.com/events

To qualify, registration must be completed using an e-mail with an official domain related to a UK emergency services organisation.