FDM Hosts Successful Awareness Day Alongside SBD

FDM – Training and Development (FDM), has recently hosted a successful Awareness Day, in association with Secured by Design (SBD), for Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs) at FDM’s training centre in Bury.

FDM, part of the UAP Group, welcomed the DOCOs to its Training Academy, offering a hands-on training experience with some of UAP’s Police Preferred Specification-accredited products.

Attendees to the Awareness Day explored UAP’s wide portfolio of over 6,000 hardware solutions, including high-security 3-star cylinders, window restrictors, and letterplates. The event made full use of FDM’s dedicated training corridors, where delegates could explore real-world door and hardware installations designed to provoke questions, discussion, and a deeper understanding of how products perform in situ.

The story of FDM

FDM’s practical Training Academy, opened in 2024, is the first of its kind in the UK. The company was established after Grenfell tragedy to address growing concerns around fire safety compliance in the built environment. It delivers GQA-accredited training aligned with the Building Safety Act 2022 and informed by recommendations from the Grenfell Phase 1 and 2 Reports, including the “golden thread” principle.

Focused on bridging knowledge gaps surrounding the correct inspection, maintenance, and installation of fire doors, FDM provides essential knowledge for improving safety standards and ensuring that fire door components meet the most rigorous performance criteria.

Bridging the knowledge gap

Nicola John, Managing Director of FDM – Training and Development, said: “We were delighted to provide a fire door seminar and training for the SBD and DOCO teams at FDM. We offer holistic fire door training for the entire supply chain — from procurement through to maintenance — and we’re thrilled to have the teams’ support as we bridge knowledge gaps for all those working on the building lifecycle.”

DOCOs provide specialist crime reduction advice to the public, businesses, and colleagues about premises or property security. They work with building developers, architects, and council planning departments regarding new developments and refurbishments, to ‘design out’ crimes like burglary and anti-social behaviour. DOCOs also provide advice on preferred security standards and specifications for doors, windows, and locks, under the SBD initiative.

Training corridor love

Hazel Goss, Development Officer at Secured by Design, commented: “The facilities at FDM’s Training Academy are excellent: the training and breakout rooms are spacious, airy, and ideal for any meeting. I particularly loved the training corridors, with each door opening into a different scenario or offering practical advice. Seeing these items installed brought them to life and sparked meaningful conversations.

“The Awareness Day was all about gaining knowledge and understanding, and I certainly did. The feedback from others has been equally positive. We had an excellent afternoon: thank you to all involved.”

UAP recently celebrated 25 years as an SBD member after joining as a founder. Established in 1996, UAP has grown from a hardware import business into an award-winning industry leader. With more than 30 products accredited to Police Preferred Specification, UAP continues to champion innovation, security, and quality across the built environment.

You can find out more about UAP and their Secured by Design accredited products on its dedicated member page.