MK Ready to Respond:
Strengthening Resilience in Our City
On Thursday 27th March 2025, My-MK hosted our first Business Breakfast event at Unity Place, successfully bringing together businesses, emergency services, and key stakeholders to kickstart a city-wide Ready to Respond campaign focused on building resilience and preparedness for major incidents.
The MK Ready to Respond campaign has been developed by Joe McMahon, a trained paramedic and firefighter, whose family own Pink Punters nightclub in Bletchley.
“Throughout my 40 years as a paramedic, I’ve responded to countless incidents — both large and small — where people and organisations were simply unprepared for the unfolding emergency. Having witnessed too many preventable deaths and unnecessary suffering due to a lack of early, simple care such as controlling severe bleeding, I am passionate about ensuring that individuals, families, communities, organisations, and businesses are equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to respond effectively in a crisis.”
To read more about the success of the Ready to Respond Breakfast
please CLICK HERE.
Watch our video!
Watch our video to understand why this event matters and hear the key messages from our CEO Jill Farnsworth, Chief Inspector Matt Sulley of Thames Valley Police, Professor Sir Keith Porter of citizenAID and Midsummer Place's centre manager, Simon Martin.
Presentations
Matthew Sulley
Thames Valley Police
Keith Porter
CitizenAid
Rob Duffy
Thames Valley Police
Joe McMahon
Ready to Respond
FAQs
How can your business be ready to respond?
My-MK is committed to helping businesses get Ready to Respond and is working with partner organisations including citizenAID, Thames Valley Police and Milton Keynes Council to provide access to information, training and tools that your business can benefit from.
How do I prepare for Martyn’s Law?
The upcoming Martyn’s Law will require certain premises and events to improve their protective security and emergency preparedness against terrorism. However, businesses do not need to worry right now, as the Bill is still being finalised, and once enacted, there will be a two-year transition period to comply.
The law will apply to venues expecting:
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200-799 people (Standard Tier) – Simple, low-cost security procedures like identifying safe routes and securing doors.
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800+ people (Enhanced Tier) – Additional measures such as monitoring public areas and documenting security compliance.
The focus is on reasonable, practical steps, similar to health and safety regulations. When the law takes effect, businesses will have clear guidance and free resources to help them comply.
To find out more visit: https://www.protectuk.police.uk/martyns-law/martyns-law-overview-and-what-you-need-know
Empowering the public:
The CitizenAid app
In an emergency, knowing what to do in the crucial first moments can make all the difference. The citizenAID app is a free, life-saving tool designed to guide individuals through immediate actions in the event of a terrorist attack, serious injury, or mass casualty incident.
Why Download the citizenAID App?
✅ Simple, Clear Instructions – Step-by-step guidance for responding to life-threatening situations.
✅ No Internet Required – Works offline, ensuring access anytime, anywhere.
✅ Bleed Control Advice – Essential knowledge on using first aid and bleed kits before emergency services arrive.
✅ Developed by Experts – Created by medical and trauma specialists to improve public resilience. Businesses are encouraged to promote the app among staff and customers, ensuring more people are equipped to act fast and save lives.
📲 Download the citizenAID app today:🔗 Google Play Store | Apple App Store | citizenAID website
Ready to Respond Bleed kit
Having a bleed control kit in your workplace could help save lives. CitizenAID is advocating for a shift in official guidance from Run, Hide, Tell to Run, Hide, Tell – and When It’s Safe, Treat. This approach emphasises the need for the public to be prepared to provide lifesaving treatment once it is safe to do so, rather than waiting for emergency services to arrive. The MK Ready to Respond Stop the Bleed Kits have been designed to save lives, containing military-grade wound dressings, both tourni-key and a commercial tourniquet and other vital components.
If you are My-MK member business you can save 20% on the cost of the bleed kit. Contact the office on info@mymiltonkeynes.co.uk to get your discount code.
Resources
ProtectUK and the NPSA (National Protective Security Authority are both excellent sources of advice, guidance and training and you can find out more about resilience and emergency planning on the other links:
www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/emergency-planning
www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/business/business-continuity-and-resilience
www.gov.uk/guidance/resilience-in-society-infrastructure-communities-and-businesses
Specific training offered include:
ACT (Action Counters Terrorism)
ACT Training is a free counter-terrorism awareness course developed by Counter Terrorism Policing. It is designed to help businesses, employees, and the public identify, prevent, and respond to potential terrorist threats.
What Does ACT Training Cover?
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Understanding the current terrorism threat in the UK.
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Spotting suspicious behavior and activity.
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How to report concerns to authorities effectively.
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Responding to incidents, including attacks and emergencies.
Who Is It For?
ACT training is available for:
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Businesses (retail, hospitality, transport, events, etc.)
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Frontline staff and security teams
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The general public
The training is accessible online and takes around 45 minutes to complete. It is a valuable resource for businesses looking to improve security awareness and preparedness across their workforce.
SCaN (See, Check and Notify) Training
This is a security training program developed by the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI). It is designed to help businesses, security staff, and frontline employees detect and respond to potential threats, particularly related to terrorism and hostile reconnaissance.
What Does SCaN Training Cover?
SCaN focuses on:
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Raising awareness of the threat of terrorism and suspicious activity.
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Improving security culture within businesses and public spaces.
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Helping staff understand their role in identifying and mitigating security risks.
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Building confidence in responding to potential threats or terrorist incidents.
Who Is It For?
SCaN training is tailored for:
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Frontline staff (retail, hospitality, transport, etc.)
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Security teams
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Managers and business leaders
SCR (Security Control Room) Training
For Control Room staff there is a Security control Room Operators course (SCR), that is provided by the NPSA – this is currently a free course consisting of 5 days (held in Bedfordshire), that takes operators through the roles and responsibilities of Control Room staff.
Course Objectives:
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Preparedness: Equip operators with the knowledge to anticipate and plan for potential terrorist threats.
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Attack Detection: Train staff to identify early signs of an attack, enabling swift action.
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Command and Control: Develop effective decision-making skills under pressure to manage incidents efficiently.
Training Features:
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Immersive Exercises: Participants engage in realistic simulations of various terrorist scenarios, practicing real-time decision-making in a controlled environment.
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Expert Instruction: The course is delivered by professionals with extensive experience in counter-terrorism and security operations.
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Comprehensive Curriculum: Topics include understanding attack timelines, improving detection capabilities, and establishing robust command and control protocols.
A separate one-day Managers Course is also available for individuals with overall responsibility for security control rooms and incident management, focusing on strategic oversight and leadership during critical incidents.
For more information or to express interest in attending the SCR Operators Course, please visit the NPSA website.
BID Schemes
For more information about the BID Radio Scheme please visit our dedicated page here.