John Fogarty started his own business after being made redundant during the pandemic – and three and a half years later it’s going from strength to strength.

Lichfield-based JPF First Aid works with clients including well-known restaurant brands and multi-academy trusts to deliver life-saving training for adults and children of all ages.

John is the founder and lead trainer but he is also starting to work with associates, mentor other trainers and would like to bring in apprentices.

He said: “I’m immensely proud of what has been achieved with the business over the past few years. There have been a number of challenges that we’ve all had to face and that I’ve faced personally, so moving the business forward has been a huge achievement.

“I just want to support people. I’ve got passion and pride and I think that shows in my customer service and delivery.”

John’s background is as a first aid trainer and an assessor for a training company. Before that he was cabin crew for various airlines.

JPF First Aid works with both primary and secondary school pupils, where John uses ECHO the First Aid Frog to help children learn what to do in first aid situations.

He offers enrichment sessions to help prepare sixth form students for real-life situations including skills in readiness for the workplace.

John also runs monthly mental health drop-in sessions at a library to support members of the community. He supports numerous charities and donated a first aid kit to an under-13s football team.

JPF has won a number of awards including being commended for Start-up Business of the Year by Lichfield District Council.

John Fogarty has entered the Entrepreneur of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and JPF First Aid has been entered in the Skills for the Future category.