The History of Hota
HOTA, the Quality Training Provider, offers nationally approved training and tailor-made courses to meet company specific training needs. HOTA is renowned for its flexibility and for its highly trained team of professional trainers delivering courses when, where and how they are required.
HOTA is a Limited Company with Charity Status ploughing back all surplus finds generated into enhancing its training facilities at both its Malmo Road and Albert Dock Sites.
HOTA has acquired an enviable reputation and a high level of credibility over the past years for its training provision throughout the UK and it intends to maintain its position as a market leader and a pioneer for many years to come.
2008 - HOTA manufactured and installed the Skyscape System on its Dock Site
On its Malmo Road site, it invested substantial funds into the commissioning, manufacture and installation of a new Helicopter Underwater Escape Training Simulator.
Work started on the expansion of HOTA’s COMP ‘Ex’ Suite (Approved Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas) to increase the number of assessment bays resulting in increased delegate
throughput. Work also started to further expand this area to allow for the addition of Approved Dust Protection Training.
For the past 5 years HOTA has received annual Awards from the Humberside Occupational Health & Safety Group for being accident free.
2007 - HOTA celebrated its 20th Anniversary as a Limited Company with Charity Status
A second Emergency Response Suite was developed which necessitated the construction of a new lecture room on HOTA’s poolside to house the First Aid Suite into
which the ER Suite had expanded. This development involved the strengthening of the lecture room ceiling to accommodate a display area for rafts etc. accessed by a separate staircase.
2005/2006 - HOTA added many new, MCA Approved, courses to its portfolio
Particularly for the Maritime Sector, including Proficiency in Medical Care on Board Ships Refresher,
Ship Security Officer, Advanced Fire Fighting and its Refresher.
A series of Civil Protection Courses were also introduced and HOTA gained University of Hull Foundation Award status for them.
HOTA’s new Website was established and substantial investment was made into the development of the Fireground, HOTA’s Computer Systems, Pool Plant & Equipment,
the Kitchen and into further enhancement of the Emergency Response Suite.
2004 – National Approval as HOTA expands into Emergency Response!
HOTA has now built a dedicated facility to provide the planning, organisation and procedures required to manage emergencies, assess managers abilities to take control of emergencies and to provide exercises to practice decision making in emergency response situations. This facility has now been given National Approval by OPITO for the assessment of Offshore Installation Managers and Control Room Operators. This involves assessing the competency of delegates in managing major incidents utilising realistic scenarios, which culminate in the abandonment of an Offshore Installation.
2002 – Further Dock Refurbishment
Early 2002, HOTA’s dock site underwent further development and refurbishment when a Restaurant and an additional lecture room, clothing and equipment facility, reception and dock site office replace old portocabin type buildings which had seen better days! The Albert Dock site is no longer just a subsidiary but HOTA’s second site of major activity and, dare it be said, the best dockside training facility in the UK!
2001 – NEBOSH approval
In 2001, HOTA expanded the provision of Health and Safety courses to include approval for the NEBOSH General Certificate.
1999 – Major Changes at HOTA!
1999 was a very busy year for HOTA, new training steams were added and huge development took place.
HOTA began offering seafarers world-wide the full range of STCW95 short courses and a newly installed Electrical Suite at Malmo Road also added nationally approved COMP’Ex’ (Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas and Potentially Explosive Atmospheres) together with a variety of City and Guilds courses saw HOTA’s portfolio significantly increased.
In September, HOTA commissioned it’s own fire ground at Malmo Road, together with a building extension to include additional lecture rooms and changing room facilities to cater for the fire fighting trainees.
The same year, an Amenity Block was built on the dock site, together with additional lecture rooms, and the Command and Control Centre used for training Masters and Mates of Standby Vessels was transferred to the Dock Site.
1998 – HOTA adds Standby Vessel Training to its Portfolio
HOTA entered into liaison with Maritime Rescue International to offer six new courses for the Standby Vessel Industry. Courses included Command and Control for Masters and Mates, Initial Training Shipboard Operations, Advanced Medical Aid and Refresher, FRC Boatman and FRC Coxswain. This provision was greatly enhanced by the installation of hospital section taken off an actual sea going vessel on the dock site. This unit provided realism in the delivery of the medical training.
1997 – HOTA celebrates 10th Anniversary
On the 6th November 1997, HOTA proudly celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a dinner at the Guildhall with the Lord Mayor and Mayoress of Hull, distinguished guests and customers/clients of the company.
HOTA also celebrated its 10,000th certificate issued from the most recently installed computerised system. What a coincident both in the same year!
A new elevated helideck, complete with helicopter was constructed in HOTA’s extensive car park to aid realism during the practical sessions of the Helicopter Landing Officer Course. "
1996 – Another first for HOTA
In 1996, HOTA became the first centre in the UK and World-wide to attain OPITO approval for the Helicopter Landing Officer course.
Also in 1996, HOTA gained IOSH accreditation for its OIMs and Offshore Safety Representatives Regulations Course.
1994 – HOTA gains both ISO9002 and Investor in People Awards
In April, 1994, HOTA became the first offshore training centre in the UK to achieve ISO9002 certification and the national award of Investor in People proving it’s commitment to the delivery of quality training and to the continuous improvement of it’s services.
1992 – Training Centre officially opened
Training began from the new purpose built centre. Her Royal Highness Princess Anne officially opened the Training Centre on the 8th June. Lord Cullen, Chairman of the Piper Alpha Disaster Enquiry and Michael Forsyth, Minister of State for the Department of Employment also made official visits.
HOTA also added a number of new courses to its portfolio including HSE approved First Aid courses.
1991 – June, work starts on new Survival Training Centre
On the 17th June, Keith Gordon, Chairman of HOTA cut the first ground for the new purpose built Survival Training Centre on Sutton Fields. HOTA also relocated and expanded its dock facility from Alexander Dock to Albert Dock. Instructional staff delivering HOTA’s water survival courses was transferred from the college into HOTA’s employment.
1988 – Linda Ellis joins HOTA
Linda Ellis joins HOTA as Training Coordinator. In 1991 as work started on HOTA’s new purpose built Survival Centre Linda became HOTA’s General Manager/Company Secretary and remains in that position today.
1987 – December, HOTA became incorporated
A Limited Company with Charity Status, HOTA was conceived in 1987 as an industry lead Association geared, to provide OPITO approved training courses for the offshore Industry.
In the early days, HOTA was very much a “middle man”, providing training courses by utilising sub-contract organisations for the delivery of these courses in a variety of locations around Hull.