When it comes to training, most of us would assume the British armed forces are second to none. So it may come as something of a surprise that training is being carried out by an external company which has drawn praise from senior army personnel as a potential lifesaver.

The aptly named Explosive Learning Solutions (ELS) based in Harwell offers a range of courses, including one designed to heighten understanding of the threat of improvised explosive devices, which have been the scourge of British Army personnel in Afghanistan.

The training for the Ministry of Defence involved highlighting the latest thinking in the skills required to identify and respond to potential attacks and avoid casualties.

ELS co-founder Cath Convery said: “During late 2008 and early 2009 the umber of roadside bomb casualties sustained by the British Army in Afghanistan increased at an alarming and unacceptable rate.

“As a soldier about to return to Afghanistan said: “If we’d had this training before my last tour we’d have a lot more blokes still around,” a sentiment echoed by all of his colleagues.”

The course led to ELS being named winner of the Best Training Partnership category at the Training Journal Awards.

Ms Convery said: “There are two parts of the company. The consultancy arm is very much about working with other nations as much as our own armed forces.

“The award we recently won is for counter-terrorism training. The main reason it was contracted out is that the Army wanted it carried out fast.

“Then there is the business training side which is particularly involved with people transferring from the military to civilian life.”

That transition can be fraught with difficulties, particularly as many former military personnel have spent their entire careers in the forces and adapting that experience to a civilian job is not always an easy fit.

But with cutbacks continuing to bite, more and more are finding themselves in that situation.

Ms Convery explained: “Many need advice and guidance as well as qualifications and we run a five-day project management coourse which results in a qualification called Prince 2.

“We also spend time talking to individuals about how best to represent themselves.”

The training is not just limited to the armed forces but can also be used for civilian workers to help manage change and solve particular problems. And the courses are delivered internationally with clients as far afield as South Arica, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

ELS is also often brought in by firms to tender for government contracts or those on offer from international companies.

And then there are cases such as BAE Systems to deal with training needs following redundancy.

But back to the sharp end of the business — training the military against new and evolving threats, such as roadside bombs.

ELS specifically designed a course based on training needs analysis. Ms Convery explained: “We look at the different types of role an individual may have using skilled anti-terrorist trainers who also include elements such as equipment education.

“We like to incorprate as much new thinking as we can, for example with the use of hand-held technology and role play based on real-life experience.

“There are certain tools and techniques used by the military and we need to know they are enforced. Our training is designed to change behaviour, embed processes and reinforce skills.”

ELS employs 14 full-time trainers and has 50 associates. Growth has been rapid and the company has built an annual turnover of £1.5m since setting up in 2005.

Not surprisingly, Ms Convery, 47, has a military background having been in the Women's Royal Army Corps and then the educational core.

Her husband, Jim, is an ex-bomb disposal officer who completed tours in Iraq, Germany and Northern Ireland and the duo formed the company to fuse their particular skills.

Handily placed in the Harwell Science and Innovation Centre, the company is looking to take advantage of opportunities arising from the establishment of the Science Vale enterprise zone, the Diamond light source scientific facility and Milton Park in general as firms identify training needs. ib