TWO North-East firms have joined forces to deliver offshore medic training.

AIS Training has bought a stake in Medipro.

Bosses say the move will create the UK's only centre specialising in medical and offshore courses.

The venture, known as AIS Medipro, will offer a range of qualifications, including the HSE offshore medic and IMCA diver medic technician programmes.

Medipro will move from its base in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, to AIS' 120,000sq ft site in North Shields, North Tyneside, which boasts 13 skills centres, including areas for offshore survival, rigging and rope access.

Paul Stonebanks, AIS Group's managing director, said: “Medipro has the same philosophy and drive for quality as we do.

“Acquiring a stake allows us to expand our training, at the same time as responding to the industry’s need for multi-skilled technicians to do tasks required in the safest and most effective way.

“First aid and medical training for the offshore sector is a highly specialised area, which can only be delivered by trained clinicians, and linking with Medipro allows us to offer a unique one-stop-shop.”

Medipro was founded by former NHS worker Brian English more than two years ago.

He added: “We have grown substantially from a standing start, but teaming up with AIS leaps us forward a decade in terms of business development.”