Global award for rescue training site

Facilities used to train rescuers to work in the chaos of disaster zones has won an international award

Waddington Training Centre was named Training Provider of the Year at the Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards 2025.

It is located on a 17-acre site, three miles north of Lincoln and has been developed as the ultimate training facility for a wide range of rescue scenarios from road collisions and rail collisions to fires to collapsed buildings.

The Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards celebrate the achievements of search and rescue teams, volunteers, organisations and suppliers who ensure there is an effective emergency response when needed.

The Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue centre was nominated for its pivotal role in United Kingdom International Search and Rescue’s (UKISAR) preparedness, which was put to the test most recently in responses to the Turkey and Morocco earthquakes.

Mark Baxter, Chief Fire Officer at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “It’s great news that Waddington Training Centre has been recognised as a global facility of excellence.

“Over the years, we have invested and worked hard to develop this site into a first-class training facility, and this award recognises the fantastic job that our teams have done – and continue to do - to deliver this.

“It’s also a reflection of the strong partnerships we’ve built across emergency services in the UK and around the world. With many multi-agency training exercises throughout the year, our site is key in helping to establish a highly skilled and prepared emergency response to major incidents.

“While we’re proud of what we’ve already achieved, we’ll continue to invest, innovate and collaborate to make sure our responders are ready for whatever challenges they face.”

Shaun Yates, Specialist Rescue Training Manager at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “We were up against some exceptional and high reputable training providers from around the world, so we are incredibly proud to have won this award.

“What sets us apart is our collaborative approach. We grow alongside our users by offering bespoke training scenarios and working closely with them to support the delivery of the highest quality training possible.”

Pictured above - the site’s realistic layouts are used to train search and rescue dogs.

Receiving the Training Provider of the Year award are (from left) Pete Lake, Shaun Yates and Colin Gildon.