Manual Handling Training Courses
We provide practical manual handling training for organisations across Bristol, Bath and the South West, covering both people handling (moving and assisting clients) and load handling (lifting and moving objects). Our people-handling courses are aligned to the Skills for Health Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF) and led by one of our Directors, Sarah, an advanced moving and handling practitioner. We run open courses at our training centre in Warmley, Bristol, just eight miles from Bath, and deliver in-house at your premises anywhere in the UK.
People handling or load handling: which do you need?
“Manual handling” covers two quite different needs, and we train both:
- People (client) handling – safely moving and assisting people, for staff in care homes, hospitals, hospices, schools and community settings. These courses are aligned to the CSTF.
- Load (object) handling – safe lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and carrying of objects, for staff in offices, warehouses, workshops and similar.
Not sure which your team needs? We’ll help you choose, and can combine elements where a role involves both.
| Course | Type | Length | Price (per person, ex VAT) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation Level Manual Handling | People (client) handling | Full day (6 hrs) | £105 | New care staff who move and assist clients (CSTF-aligned) |
| Client Manual Handling (half-day refresher) | People (client) handling | Half day (3 hrs) | £70 | Care staff refreshing client-handling skills (CSTF-aligned) |
| Manual Handling of Loads | Load (object) handling | Half day (3 hrs) | £70 | Staff lifting and moving objects in offices, warehouses, workshops |
What does manual handling training cost?
We believe in being upfront about price. Our Foundation Level Manual Handling course is £105 per person, and both our half-day courses, Client Manual Handling and Manual Handling of Loads, are £70 per person. These prices exclude VAT and apply to our open courses at our Warmley training centre, where you book individual places on scheduled dates. They are the actual prices, not a starting point.
On-site training at your own premises is priced differently, because no two jobs are the same. The cost depends on how many people you need trained, how far our nearest trainer travels to reach you, and the course itself. For several staff this is usually more cost-effective per head than booking individual open-course places. The quickest way to find out is to call us on 0117 958 2070 for a bespoke quote, and we will give you a clear price.
Manual handling and the law
Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (amended 2002), employers must avoid hazardous manual handling so far as is reasonably practicable, assess the risk where it can’t be avoided, and reduce the risk of injury. Training your staff is a key part of meeting that duty, and of reducing the musculoskeletal injuries that remain one of the biggest causes of workplace sickness absence in the UK.
Manual handling training in Bristol, Bath and the South West
Our training centre is in Warmley, Bristol (BS30 8XT), just eight miles from Bath and within easy reach of Bristol city centre, Kingswood, Keynsham and the wider South West. We run a rolling programme of open courses there, ideal if you only have one or two people to train.
Our portfolio of manual handling courses includes:
- Foundation Level Manual Handling – MH01
- Foundation Level Manual Handling Children – MHO1A
- Manual Handling Refresher – MH02
- Manual Handling Load – MH03
- Online Manual Handling Load – MH03L
- Moving and Handling Train the Trainer Foundation Course – MH04
- Moving and Handling Trainers Annual Update – MH05
- Manual Handling – Emergency Handling – MH06
- Evacuation Chair – MH07
Key Takeaways:
Manual handling training helps reduce workplace injuries by teaching safer lifting techniques, risk awareness, and correct handling procedures for both people and loads. The courses from Acorn Health & Safety are designed for healthcare, education, and workplace environments, combining practical learning with up-to-date legislation and guidance. Building these skills improves staff confidence, supports safer working practices, and helps organisations lower the risk of accidents, absences, and long-term musculoskeletal injuries.
Manual handling training: your questions answered
How much does manual handling training cost?
Our open-course prices are £105 per person for Foundation Level Manual Handling (a full day, people handling, CSTF-aligned), and £70 per person for each of our half-day courses, Client Manual Handling (the people-handling refresher) and Manual Handling of Loads. These are per person and exclude VAT, for places on scheduled courses at our Warmley centre. On-site training at your premises is quoted per job, as the price depends on numbers, location and the course, so call us on 0117 958 2070 for a bespoke quote.
How long is a manual handling course?
Most of our foundation manual handling courses run for half a day. Length can vary depending on whether it’s people handling or load handling, the level, and whether it’s tailored to your workplace. Refresher courses are shorter. We’ll confirm the duration for the specific course you need.
How often should manual handling training be refreshed?
Refresher training every 1 to 3 years is widely recommended, and many care-sector employers refresh people-handling skills annually to meet the Care Certificate and CSTF. We offer dedicated refresher courses for this.
What is the CSTF, and why does it matter?
The Skills for Health Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF) is the UK standard for statutory and mandatory training in health and social care. Because our people-handling courses are aligned to it, employers can recognise the training as a national standard, trust it, and reduce duplication. It can be used by any UK healthcare employer, including the NHS, independent providers, bank and agency organisations, and education.
Do you train care home and NHS staff?
Yes. Our people-handling courses are designed for health and social care, are CSTF-aligned, and our manual handling team is led by a Director who is an advanced moving and handling practitioner. We regularly train carers, nurses and support staff across the care sector.
What is the difference between people handling and load handling?
People handling is about safely moving and assisting people, which needs particular skills around dignity, communication and risk. Load handling is about safely lifting and moving objects. They are different courses; we offer both and can advise which your team needs.
Can you deliver training at our workplace?
Yes. As well as open courses at our Warmley centre, we deliver in-house at your premises anywhere in the UK, tailored to your environment and equipment. For several staff, this is usually the most cost-effective option.
Why do our customers choose us?
Acorn Health & Safety has many years of experience delivering manual handling training and health and safety consultancy for organisations across the healthcare, education, commercial, and public sectors. Our trainers combine recognised teaching qualifications with extensive practical experience in moving and handling, helping delegates develop techniques that can be applied confidently within their own working environments.
We regularly deliver training for care providers, schools, healthcare organisations, businesses, and community services, tailoring courses to reflect workplace procedures, equipment, and the specific manual handling risks delegates encounter in their day-to-day roles. This practical approach helps employers improve safety, reduce the risk of injury, and support compliance with current legislation.
Customers come from an equally diverse range of organisations and businesses but choose Acorn because we’ll keep you on the right side of the law, whilst recognising that health and safety needs to compliment your day to day business activities.
Our tailored course programmes are particularly suited to organisations with specific learning outcomes and are developed to meet the requirements of the Care Certificate.
Here at Acorn Health & Safety Ltd, we are pleased to confirm that our Manual Handling of Clients training courses are all aligned to The Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF)
The CSTF allows employers to recognise training to a standard, trust that information and reduce duplication of training. It also gives confidence that training standards have been met and standardises the interpretation of statutory/mandatory or clinical/care training.
The Framework can be used by any healthcare employer in the UK, including NHS, independent healthcare providers, bank staff, agency organisations, and educational organisations and ensures the educational relevance of the training and improves the quality and consistency of training provision.
How do we approach manual handling training?
Our moving and handling course programmes are regularly updated and reviewed to ensure the needs of learners are met. Our client handling courses are very popular among carers who need to update their manual handling of people techniques. In addition to the ‘manual handling’ aspect of the task, we focus on other areas that might also contribute to injury, for example:
- Fixed, static and sustained postures
- Work equipment, such as computers
We also provide a manual handling of loads course for anyone who may have to handle any type of load.
Our courses are delivered in a relaxed and informative style, designed to meet specific industry requirements or a tailor made to individual and organisations specific and varied needs.
The emphasis on every course is to allow delegates to become confident in their skills through a range of theory and practical sessions, as well as continuing assessment and feedback from the trainer.
What should you expect from Acorn Health & Safety?
We’ll provide delegates with a variety of printed course materials, including workbooks and handouts and on completion of learning, delegates will receive an appropriate certificate.
Post course, our team of consultants and trainers are available to answer any questions you might have. You’ll also receive an automatic reminder prior to course expiry.
Our ‘manual handling’ course portfolio is just one group of over 60 courses we offer. Acorn Health & Safety provides training and consultancy in first aid, fire safety, food safety, manual handling, healthcare training and health and safety.
Our ‘in-house’ course programmes are the most cost effective option if you have a number of staff requiring training, and in many cases can be adapted to include reference to local policy, practice and documentation. These courses can be delivered either at any suitable venue or you can hire our purpose-built training centre located in Warmley, Bristol, whichever is best suited to your needs.
We also run a rolling programme of ‘open courses’ which are particularly suited for individuals or organisations that only have a few delegates or those looking to release small groups of staff at a time.
Other courses that we specialise in and provide consultancy in which could be of interest to you are:
Book manual handling training
Ready to book, or want to talk through what your team needs? You can book online and see the next available dates, or call our friendly team on 0117 958 2070 and we’ll help you choose the right course, and between an open course in Bristol or in-house training at your premises.
Not every course can be ‘off the shelf’.
Our tailored health and safety training is aimed at meeting the needs of customers who have specific subjects to be covered within their health and safety staff training.
Find out more
Call our team on 0117 958 2070 or if it’s out of hours or you prefer e-mail – [email protected]
E-learning Courses
We recognise that e-learning is a cost-effective training method.
Our e-learning platform is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and therefore accessible when you or your staff team need it.
Open Course Diary
Aimed at businesses and individuals requiring specific training or those with only a few members of staff to train our open courses run regularly throughout the year and cover a variety of different subjects.
Manual Handling FAQ’s
Trusted by organisations across the South West
Want to Chat?
Prefer to talk about your training and consultancy needs?
Call our team; we are happy to help 0117 958 2070, if it’s out of hours or you prefer e-mail – [email protected]
Next Steps
Prefer to talk about your training and consultancy needs?
Ready to book, or not sure which course you need? You can book online and see the next available dates here. Alternatively, call our friendly team on 0117 958 2070 or email [email protected], and we’ll help you choose the right course and decide between an open course in Bristol or in-house training at your premises.