Bespoke Courses

Van Walt has vast experience delivering environmental training both the theory and the practical use of equipment.

We are very happy to put together bespoke training packages, either at our own training facility in Haslemere, Surrey or at your premises, if suitable conditions are available and the number of delegates makes it a cost effective alternative.

This training will usually be based around our previous and current courses but can be modified to take into account your special requirements or equipment needs.

Please call Vincent van Walt on 01428 661 660 for a more detailed discussion.

An example of Van Walt Bespoke Training - Environmental Training for the Nuclear Industry

Sellafield Ltd, responsible for safely delivering decommissioning, reprocessing, nuclear waste management and fuel manufacturing activities on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, has the largest concentration of nuclear expertise in Europe with over 50 years of experience.  These experts are supported by many teams including a highly skilled land quality operations team responsible for restoring the site, preventing pollution and removing the impacts arising from historic activities.

This team has undergone extensive environmental training to ensure they are up to date with the most recent standards and reporting practices that are used and required onsite.

Part of that training recently included attending a ‘Monitoring Well Installation & Sampling for Environmental Research’ training course designed and delivered by Van Walt Ltd, the specialist research equipment and training provider.

Van Walt has delivered training to more than 200 professionals on the science, theory and techniques applied in environmental research and the company has trained several other researchers from nuclear sites including Bradwell, Sellafield and Calder Hall.

This time Van Walt was asked to develop a bespoke course, tailored to the specific requirements of the Sellafield groundwater maintenance team. It needed to provide detailed instruction on environmental standards applied to environmental reporting; evaluation of contaminants; geo-hydrology and soil classification; installing monitoring wells; taking accurate water quality measurements in the field; groundwater sampling techniques and best fit equipment plus other water sampling techniques.  And in addition, to provide the delegates with the opportunity to put into practice what they had learned in the classroom with realistic exercises, using the relevant equipment, in field conditions.

“We have been providing environmental training for over six years, delivering courses at our premises in Surrey but also overseas in countries as far afield as Spain, The Democratic Republic of Congo and Dubai.  So over the years we have been able to hone and develop our expertise on the relevant standards and reporting techniques, equipment and best practice that relate to this very fast changing industry,” said Vincent van Walt, director, Van Walt Ltd.  “We were delighted to be able to work with Sellafield to help them better understand the skills they need to achieve their objectives in monitoring and remediating the Sellafield site.”

The lead tutor on the course, Jan Frank Mars, a chemical biologist specialising in toxicology and biological in-situ remediation, has extensive knowledge of the design of sampling equipment for soil, soil gas, soil moisture, sediments and groundwater sampling. This includes installation techniques (manual and with machinery) for monitoring wells for environmental research and soil classification.  Plus, he has experience with sampling for a wide range of pollutants such as polycyclic hydrocarbons, mineral oils, pesticides, chlorinated solvents, trace metals, cyanides and other volatiles and non-volatiles.

“Jan Franks experience is extensive,” said Derek Hodgson, Senior Groundwater Maintenance Engineer, Sellafield Facility Characterisation & Land Quality team.  “And the practical exercises really helped to cement the theory we had covered during the classroom sessions.  This complex subject was well presented and the whole course was really enjoyable. It has certainly given us the confidence we needed to oversee and manage onsite groundwater monitoring activities,” concluded Derek.

For more information on the range of environmental courses available from Van Walt or to discuss your individual training requirements call 01428 661 660, email vincent@vanwalt.com or visit www.vanwalt.com. Bespoke courses are priced according to content, number of delegates and location.