Process Plant
At the heart of HCF CATCH is a live process plant used to give engineers and operators hands-on experience of plant process operations. It lets trainees work with real equipment and procedures in a controlled setting, reflecting the demands of the process, energy and engineering sectors without the risks of a live production site.
Hands-on Process Training
The process plant underpins courses such as Introduction to Plant Process Operations, giving delegates practical exposure to the systems and procedures they will encounter in industry. It forms an integral part of our process engineering training programmes, complementing classroom-based instruction with real equipment practice.
Part of the Wider Facility
The process plant sits alongside our training rooms and workshop spaces within the Stallingborough facility, forming a single real-industry training environment used across our engineering, process and health & safety courses. Tours of the facility, including the process plant, can be arranged for those interested in seeing our training environment first-hand.
The process plant at HCF CATCH is more than just a training aid—it is a genuine working facility designed to mirror real industrial conditions. Trainees are guided through start-up, shutdown, and normal operating procedures using actual valves, pumps, instrumentation, and control systems. This hands-on approach builds confidence and competence in a way that classroom theory alone cannot achieve. Engineers and operators from across the process, energy, and engineering sectors come to Stallingborough to develop the practical skills that keep production environments safe, efficient, and compliant with industry standards.
Safety sits at the centre of every training programme delivered at the facility. Because trainees work with live equipment under supervision, they learn to identify hazards, follow permit-to-work systems, and respond correctly to abnormal situations before they ever face them in a real production environment. Courses cover major hazard awareness, gas safety, and health and safety fundamentals, ensuring delegates understand both their legal responsibilities and the practical measures that prevent incidents. This emphasis on risk awareness is particularly valuable for apprentices and those new to the industrial sector.
The facility serves as a hub for the wider industrial community in North East Lincolnshire and beyond. Alongside process operations training, the centre hosts courses covering electrical skills, mechanical engineering, renewable energy, and wind sector competencies. The site also supports prequalification assessments, auditing, and membership-based networking opportunities for companies seeking to develop their workforce. By bringing together learners, employers, and industry bodies under one roof, the centre helps strengthen the regional skills base and supports careers progression across the process, energy, and engineering sectors.
Beyond scheduled courses, HCF CATCH offers a range of facilities that can be hired for conferences, events, and syndicate work. The site at Redwood Park Estate provides meeting rooms, training spaces, and access to the live plant for tailored programmes designed around a company's specific needs. This flexibility makes the centre a practical choice for organisations looking to upskill teams efficiently or deliver bespoke assessments. The facility's location in the Humber region places it close to many major industrial employers, making it a convenient and effective resource for workforce development across the UK.