Course Testmonials

Absolutely brilliant would recommend this course. Mark look after me and Sheldon he was patient helpful and great teacher. Thanks for a great day cheers mate

Thoroughly enjoyable day. Mark was an excellent instructor who kept us entertained throughout. Having never handled a firearm before, we felt safe under his supervision and we learned a lot about how to operate a variety of weapons with plenty of hands on experience. Mark has a very interesting career with over 30 years experience and was more than happy to share stories and advice from his time in the Special Forces as well. Highly recommend

I went along expecting just simply a shooting day however I was happily surprised when the day also included looking at the inner works of different firearms and training on how to improve our shooting ability. I also thoroughly enjoyed the presentation looking at our instructors career. It was brilliant to get advice on leadership, team work and self-discipline from the perspective of someone with such experience. It ended up being an enjoyable and fascinating day which I would absolutely recommend others taking part in.

HI Nobby. It was great meeting you and thanks for a great day.

The training was outstanding. A perfect way to build foundations with a focus on safety. Mark has an incredible amount of experience both as an operator and a trainer. He not only explains what to do, he explains why it should be done, giving the student a greater depth of understanding. I can’t recommend STS enough.

The Bespoke Firearms Training Course was an absolutely exceptional experience. It provided me with a comprehensive understanding of rifles and their operations. The instructor, Mark, demonstrated an impressive level of expertise (it came as no surprise given Mark's extensive background as a military man for the British Royal Marines and Special Forces, having completed four tours in Afghanistan and numerous other deployments). He explained the rationale behind everything in a clear and organised manner. The course was well-structured and included both theoretical presentations and practical shooting exercises. The course stood out for its impeccable organisation and delivery. The theoretical portion was highly informative, covering every aspect of rifle functionality. Mark's presentations were engaging and kept me fully immersed in the subject. As a novice without prior experience with rifles, I was grateful for the thorough theoretical training. It equipped me with the confidence necessary to transition into the practical shooting component. The solid foundation laid during conceptual learning proved invaluable. The course was intense in a satisfying way, I had to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone. We covered an extensive range of topics and had ample time for practical application. The emphasis on real-world scenarios allowed for a deeper understanding of the concepts taught. Without a doubt, this course has been immensely beneficial to me. Its value far exceeded my expectations, and I am so glad I invested in this training opportunity. Mark has truly created a remarkable programme, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it. I would highly rate and recommend the course. It was well-organised, informative, and provided me with a better insight into firearms. I will be returning for further training as I feel I still have a lot to learn. Overall, it was an incredible experience. Congratulations to Mark for creating such an amazing course:)

This was my 2nd time. Learned a great deal, in part because I practiced practiced practiced nearly every day since the first one back in April. Mark is outstanding as an instructor, and I'll be back for more next year.

Words fail me. Not enough adjectives to describe the day. Absolutely brilliant will have to do. An entertaining introduction to the day and the course content was spot on. To handle and strip guns was an amazing experience for me. The live shooting range was the best part of the day. Mark was very thorough, obviously safety conscious and very patient. His professionalism was evident. A thoroughly enjoyable day. I will be going back.

Another fab course that built on the previous skills, principles and knowledge learnt. We were able to put into practice everything that was learnt and drilled in the classroom on to the range with successful outcomes. I was able to take away more useful hints and tips that I can continue to develop over the summer. Thank you very much Mark.; I shall return soon for more tuition.

It was a pleasure working with Nobby over the two day course. Having never handled a firearm before, he has made me feel safe and confident on the weapon system drills and I am looking forward to developing my foundational skills set further. This course always, always puts safety first. Clear briefings and practical demonstrations to help show why each of part of the process is important and to drive home understanding and operational safety at all times. If care about your training and you want professional one to one training, this is the place to be. Thank you Nobby.

It's hard to convey in a few words how much I have gained from this. Mark is a rarity, someone who is at the absolute top of his game and is, at the same time, more than willing and able to pass his knowledge on.

Really enjoyed the day with Mark would recommend this to anyone who is looking for brushing up or learning more about the aspects of safe shooting. Mark has a vast range of knowledge due his years of experience and is a pleasure to be around

I would like to say thank you to Nobby for the two days I was lucky enough to get with him. Unbelievable amount of knowledge and definitely the right guy to go to if a weapons handling course is what you’re looking for! Not just a generic course, it is well planned and well thought out, a lot of time and effort was put in as every course is bespoke to the student. Extremely professional and very nice guy. Until next time! Thank you Nobby

Mark really knows his business! I learned a lot and will be going back for further training iASAP!

I contacted Mark the day following the formation of my ‘Mission Idea’ in my mind – so it was around end of December/beginning of January. I told him that I planned to drive to the front-lines of the Russo-Ukraine conflict, and rescue injured or trapped people. In response to this, Mark put together a Bespoke Course to deliver training in weapons that I will find during my time in Ukraine. The course, and the overall experience of spending 2 days with the most impressive man in the universe, will stay with me forever. It was an honour to spend that time with you Mark, and I look forward to seeing you later in March 2023. I cannot recommend Mark strongly enough… and I look forward to him being Knighted by King Charles III at His Majesty’s earliest convenience!

Shooting Training Solutions is an environment where you can learn not just how to fire a weapon, but how each weapon works, all of the safety procedures and all of the principles that make a good shot. It is an unprecedented course for anyone wanting to become more familiar with firearms.

This was my second time training with Mark and it was just as enjoyable as the first. Mark and myself get on really well in between the training sections of the course which helps especially when the training is so in-depth. Mark was very patient throughout even when I was having elements of mental blocks when performing the function drills. I plan on returning in the latter part of this year and I would recommend this course to anyone. Thanks Mark I appreciate the time you've taken with me on the two course.

Very interesting, there is a lot to learn from Mark. His experience is so exhilarating, makes me to go as far as I can. I look forward to further training courses.

Mark was an amazing teacher who was very patience and extremely thorough. The speed of the course was perfect as I felt comfortable going into the shooting range after the teachings from Mark in the classroom. The stories of his military career were so compelling and I’d like to thank him for his service and also putting on a tremendous learning experience. I plan to revisit in 2023

Absolutely brilliant course. By the end of the weekend I had completed tests for two weapons systems I had never handled or been exposed to before. Mark used a variety of teaching methods to help me through the course and has the patience of a saint. Thank you Mark for a very enjoyable course and I look forward to continuing my training with you.

Mark is a true professional and gave us a fascinating glimpse into his long career in the army and special forces. We had a bespoke day for our group as we had little to no experience with firing guns. We had the chance to fire 5 different semi-automatic weapons! Highly recommend Mark and one of his courses, great day!

What a great day! I would thoroughly recommend the course to anyone looking for a team motivation exercise. Mark is likeable character that relaxes you at every stage of the shooting experience.

It's hard to imagine a more qualified instructor exists anywhere in the world, and equally the level of actual instruction and depth of knowledge is unbelievable. If you go to Mark 'KNobby' Knowles as an absolute beginner like I did, you will be immersed completely into the craft of safe and effective firearms use. Every aspect, from every angle, everything considered, no room for error. If you went as an experienced firearms user, I can only imagine you would realise how much you didn't know, and your game would be raised significantly. Expert teacher, no question left unanswered. Will be back.

Mark's firearms expertise and instruction is second-to-none. Borne out of over three decades' experience in the field, his knowledge of firearms is incredibly broad, deep and detailed. As the other testimonials here point out, students come to Mark for firearms instruction with many different motivations and a wide range of abilities. Through learning under and chatting with Mark, it doesn't take long to realise that he really is perfectly positioned to tailor a firearms course to your specific interests. He is also versatile in his teaching and will adapt his instruction to your learning style. Mark is a consummate professional with something for pretty much anyone with a healthy interest in firearms. If you are a novice, don't let that put you off signing up for a course. If you are already an expert, come and see how you can improve your knowledge and skills!

I booked this course so I could improve my shooting and accuracy and also my confidence in the handling of a Glock. I left with better skills, better drills and a better understanding of marksmanship principles!! And also with better shots on target!!! I had a great time, Nobby is a very interesting guy whose career is fascinating. Nobby immediately put me at ease, set expectations and listened to what I wanted to get out of the day. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to get better at shooting, learn some skills all while having a great day.. I will be coming back to continue my development.