A strategic partnership to deliver health and safety training in the Middle East has been signed by two Stoke-on-Trent companies.
It’s a meeting of minds and values as You Can Do It. Training and Black Onyx Concepts are both led by ex-armed forces personnel.
The deal comes as health and Safety training providers You Can Do It .Training celebrates recognition for Outstanding Training Quality.
The company, based at the Bridge Centre, Birches Head, Stoke-on-Trent has been awarded a Course check Brilliance Badge 2026 for Outstanding Training Quality.
The brilliance badge is awarded exclusively to training providers who achieve an average rating of 4.9 stars or higher based on verified learner reviews throughout the year.
You Can Do It was established by Jon Taylor and Shaun Blakemore in mid-2022. Shaun is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health and a former British Army Warrant Officer, while Jon is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and has taken on company leadership roles since seeing military service as a Senior Aircraftsman in the RAF.
You Can Do It .Training Managing Director Jon said: “The Brilliance Badge is testament to our team’s dedication to delivering high-quality training and ensuring learners have the best possible experience. We are incredibly grateful to our learners for their positive feedback and support.
“The award coincides with the establishment of a strategic partnership with Stoke-based Black Onyx.
“Built on shared values, practical experience, and a genuine commitment to helping people build skills that matter. This brings together two Stoke-on-Trent organisations with strong service-led and military backgrounds and a common belief that training should create real opportunities, not just tick boxes,” said Jon.
Along with delivering You Can Do It’s health and safety training to Black Onyx’s clients in the Gulf states, the collaboration gives You Can Do It’s customers access to the wide range of services provided by Black Onyx.
It brings together a suite of training across areas including security, medical training, close protection driver training, health, safety, and environmental training.
Stef Northfield, Strategic Lead at Black Onyx Academy and Strategic Partnerships Lead at Black Onyx Concepts, said: “Black Onyx carries-out training in the Middle East and we are often asked about health and safety training.”
The Stoke-based business focuses on ensuring the safety, efficiency, and operational excellence of businesses and organisations across various business sectors.
Alongside its international training delivery, Black Onyx Academy is actively engaged in community initiatives aimed at tackling knife crime and supporting young people. Through its S.A.L.T. (Save A Life Today) programme and Operation Mindset workshops, the academy provides practical education in areas such as emergency first aid for catastrophic bleeding, situational awareness, and conflict management, while also helping to build resilience, confidence, and positive decision-making skills among young people.
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact Nigel Howle on 0776 2043436, email [email protected]
Photo: Stef Northfield, Strategic Lead at Black Onyx Concepts, Shaun Blakemore. Director of Training & Compliance, You Can Do It, Amber Blakemore, Director of Operations, You Can Do It, Jon Taylor, Managing Director, You Can Do It, and Steve Matthews, Associate Director for International Contracts at Black Onyx.