Published: 7th January 2026.
Last updated: 7th January 2026.
Author: Cara Sherratt.
As the New Year begins, it’s the perfect time to set your workplace up for success with a fresh start. No matter your position or where you work, we’ve compiled a list of 20 essential things to consider when preparing your workplace to be as compliant and ready as possible for whatever the year might bring. Use this Workplace New Year’s Training and Supplies Checklist to kick off the year organised, efficient, and ready to thrive - find the checklist in image form, below.
Keeping a well-stocked and in-date first aid kit is of the utmost importance when it comes to maintaining the health and safety of the people around you.
Take the New Year’s reset to quickly check the expiry date on your existing supplies and throw out any that have gone past this date. Read more on why using out of date supplies is dangerous for potentially both you and others. Do a quick check now and use our handy tracker to avoid reaching for equipment that is no longer fit for purpose, at a moment it really matters.
Within two weeks of completing your last training, your certificate would have been sent to the booker of the course – whether that was yourself, your colleague, your workplace or someone else. You can use this, or the confirmation emails to inform you of when your next training should be. To stay certified, you must repeat full training or undertake a shorter requalification course to ensure you remain covered.
To stay compliant with first aid training, employers must regularly assess risks, provide training from an accredited provider, ensure first aiders renew their certifications every three years, and conduct annual refresher training. For each workplace you must assess individual needs, undertake comprehensive training and ensure sufficient coverage for the size and environment that the business operates in. Book training with St John Ambulance for First Aid, Health and Safety, Fire Safety or Mental Health today.
Each year, thousands of people are affected by common workplace injuries that require first aid treatment. With each incident, even minor cuts and scrapes can require supplies to help patch up a casualty. Therefore, it is essential to replace any used and missing items from your first aid kit as soon as items are used to ensure you aren’t missing a crucial piece of equipment when you need it most. Shop, browse and replace first aid supplies, here.
An easy way to make a huge difference to your ability to administer first aid, aside from training, is to ensure your first aid kits are stocked in each place you might need them. For motoring or travel kits, workplace first aid kits or personal use kits, browse our range of small, medium, large workplace first aid kits today. All our workplace first aid kits are compliant with BS 8599-1:2019.
First aid is everyone’s responsibility, but unfortunately not all of us are able to undertake proper training. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use the workplace environment to foster a safety-first approach to first aid and mental wellbeing. Ensure all procedures and processes are clear, up to date and shared among the workforce. Another way to foster this positive environment is through downloading and displaying free first aid posters, purchasing specific signage or using other resources – available here.
An Annual Refresher course is designed for anyone who has already undertaken First Aid training and become certified. Employers are legally required to ensure their first aiders are competent and maintain their skills throughout the three years in which their certificates are valid. Therefore, the Health and Safety Executive also strongly recommends that first aiders attend a refresher session once every year during this three-year period – this can be done in person, or online.
Each year, training providers aim to improve their offerings to make training more accessible and flexible, to ensure that as many people can step in confidently and capably in an emergency as possible. In 2025, St John Ambulance released a range of online E-Learning courses across the first aid and mental health suite, align your 2026 budgets and resources with new learning options to ensure you don’t compromise on your workplace coverage.
Are you sure that you have the right first aid and fire marshal cover for your workplace or school? Do you feel confident that you have enough of the right supplies to suit your needs? As part of your New Years checklist, use our online calculators to find out what your requirements are for first aiders, fire marshals and first aid kits. It only takes a few details to find out which training and supplies are right for you, based on Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulations.
Health and wellbeing are not just limited to the physical, mental health accounts for a large proportion of sick days and can directly impact performance at work. Workplace health is about so much more than just a first aid kit in the corner and a certificate in a filing cabinet. It calls for a whole-of-body approach to looking after the wellbeing of your employees. So crucially, mental health procedures and training coverage should be evaluated and updated regularly.
In 2025, St John Ambulance revamped the mental health training suite to ensure that multiple levels of coverage are achievable for most workplaces. Make sure you know the difference between each level of mental health cover, from creating a supportive workplace to supporting your team with mental health managers. Get certified with Mental Health Awareness ½ day courses, Mental Health Advocate 1 day course and support your fully certified Mental Health First Aiders, who have completed the 2-day course.
Whether you work in an office environment or on-site, it is important to evaluate the diverse nature of your workplace environment to determine if your workplace has additional needs for a defibrillator on-site. Do you work with people of varying ages? Do you work with people of different genders, ethnicities or socio-economic backgrounds? Then you may well need a defib installed in an accessible location at your place of work. If you want to purchase equipment with a brand name you can trust, browse our own-brand defibrillator range, the St John HEART today and purchase lifesaving equipment that can really make a difference.
A defibrillator is a lifesaving piece of equipment that has proven to be crucial in life-threatening emergencies. If you haven’t already got one on-site, now is the time to reflect if you should. Our comprehensive range of semi and fully automatic defibrillators for schools and workplaces is available to view on our website. Additionally, you browse accessories that can help you install and maintain your defibrillator, if you already have one installed. Both pads and batteries expire and will need replacing even if the defibrillator hasn’t been used.
The typical shelf life of pads and batteries is 2 to 5 years, depending on the defibrillator model – please check your user manual, consult the product detail page on our website or check the expiry date on your pad or battery.
Severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis can take lives. This year, consider purchasing the anaphylaxis Kitt from Kitt Medical, which includes adrenaline pens and CPD training, which are available to purchase for qualifying businesses and schools. Kitt Medical’s Anaphylaxis Kitts have been used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions 20 times since they launched in 2023, consider doing your part to save more lives in 2026.
Ensure you conform to fire regulations and have appointed responsible fire marshals in your workplace. Once appointed, stay compliant with fire marshal training courses to equip your representatives with the skills and knowledge they need in an emergency situation. If training certificates have expired, now is an ideal time to book in fire marshal training and renew certifications.
We’ve collected many testimonials in our time, real-life stories from individuals who have had to put their life-saving skills into practice to help others. However, a theme among some stories demonstrates that workplaces don’t always have the coverage they need. One first aider with the skills to save a life is great, however do you have the correct coverage to ensure you have a trained employee on-site to cover days off, holidays or work trips? Book sufficient training for your workplace to ensure you always have a first aider available.
Emergencies can happen anytime, so it’s worth getting familiar with your first aid kit—what’s inside, where it’s kept, and how to use it. For workplaces or public spaces, kit contents include the right supplies and a comprehensive first aid kit. You can learn more in our Workplace First Aid Kit Buying Guide or browse our shop for your supplies today. Remember, higher risk workplaces will have different needs to others, check if you need more specialised equipment such as a PAcT kit, to help prepare for the changes needed when Martyn’s Law comes into effect.
Martyn’s Law – officially titled the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025– is landmark UK legislation designed to strengthen how public venues, workplaces, and event spaces prepare for and respond to the threat of terrorism. The introduction of Martyn’s Law has underlined how important it is for all businesses to have robust plans to deal with health emergencies such as mass casualty events. Learn what you must do to stay compliant, here.
If applicable, appoint and train your first responders with FROS - a course designed for those in roles who are often first to arrive at a first aid emergency. The variations of the Level 3 qualification are aimed at positions such as security staff, responders, and those who work in high-risk industries. This can also include police, fire and rescue, and ambulance trusts. Learn more about FROS courses today. Click here to learn about FREC3 qualifications.
Workplaces are required by law to complete a risk assessment. Your risk assessment must include a regular review of your first aid needs, which should be reviewed at least once every 12 months. The first aid and fire marshal cover you need will depend on the type of workplace and level of risk. For example, a construction site will have a different level of risk to a school. Adding this to your New Year’s checklist each year is an easy way to keep track of your renewal schedules.
With forward planning and by keeping everyone informed, you create a workplace that runs efficiently and confidently. With the right preparation and resources, your workplace can stay productive, safe, and ready for whatever this year brings.
