Career change advice H&S

[mini_b]

I often post on the forum asking for life advice as I do not have access to such a diverse range of folk in real life! Many people have posted on here asking similar questions and been met with some fantastic feedback, so I was hoping that the HHO hive could possibly help me in some way.

I am strongly considering a career change.
I absolutely love my job but I don’t think it is sustainable for the rest of my working life. (I’m mid 30’s) I don’t particularly want to go into the reasons for my thinking as it would make me rather identifiable.

I have no formal qualifications that are related or worth mentioning. I have studied to degree level so I am capable of independent learning.

Thus leading to my possibly hare brained idea…

I quite fancy a job in H&S! (Environmental management particularly appeals to me)
I assist with preparation risk assessments for my employer and I enjoy it. (This is not a formal part of my role at all, it sounds bigger than it is!)

I’m not suited to a 100% office based role, I’d like to be able to get out and about with my work.

My plan was to perhaps study from home whilst still working for current employer and then when they retire, look for work in an appropriate training level/experience (at the bottom!) role.

If this sounds utterly naive and ridiculous please let me know.

Thank you for reading this far! X

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

It sounds perfectly sensible to me, there are lots of H&S courses out there, up to and beyond degree level.

 

[ycbm]

Not silly at all! My SiL moved from nursing to Environmental Health and was trained entirely by her Council employer. She later went independent doing stuff like football ground licences and retailer working safety înspections. I would certainly hope that if you do some courses before you change roles that you'll be able to pick up a role with further training. Have you looked at some possible jobs to see the entry level criteria?
.

 

[ycbm]

Here you go, great company, near me, apprentice role.

https://www.vercida.com/uk/jobs/app...e411bad153369164fddaa3461491594ddcb1cd0bd37f1

 

[mini_b]

Not silly at all! My SiL moved from nursing to Environmental Health and was trained entirely by her Council employer. She later went independent doing stuff like football ground licences and retailer working safety înspections. I would certainly hope that if you do some courses before you change roles that you'll be able to pick up a role with further training. Have you looked at some possible jobs to see the entry level criteria?
.

had a scant glance and there are some entry level roles which require all the usual (GCSEs, excel, word plus your communication, organisational, interpersonal guff) but they also appear to want you to have some sort of qualification (NEBOSH or IOSH) which is understandable.

the job market is super competitive, I’d quite like to educate myself as far as I can without a secured role at the moment to give me a slightly better chance than going in armed with nothing.
My current job is fab and would enable me to pay for any learning I need to do.

I can’t imagine I would find a role locally willing to put me through any education if I hadn’t some beforehand. We are quite rural, big towns are 25+ miles away.

 

[mini_b]

Here you go, great company, near me, apprentice role.

https://www.vercida.com/uk/jobs/apprentice-health-safety-environment-sustainability-siemens-manchester?rx_campaign=adzuna22&rx_group=117640&rx_job=294272_crt:1646146888045&rx_medium=cpc&rx_r=none&rx_source=Adzuna&rx_ts=20220307T122703Z&utm_source=adzuna-paid&utm_medium=aggregators-&utm_campaign=adzuna&rx_p=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJwcF9uYW1lIjoicmVjcnVpdGljcyIsInNyY19pZCI6NDk4MzQsImVwb2NoIjoxNjQ2Njc1NTA5LCJjbGlja19pZCI6IkhGUjdRei1lN0JHdExZa3BYMVlZZ0EiLCJzb3VyY2VfcmVmIjoiMjk0MjcyX2NydDoxNjQ2MTQ2ODg4MDQ1In0.mfpo7JsVnRzBC_3QWacE-nT0FqGsdVqVZIRwEjbeBv8&rx_viewer=23782fe59e3f11ecb0ce411bad153369164fddaa3461491594ddcb1cd0bd37f1

well that is PERFECT but you are bloody miles from me ?
We can’t up sticks as unfortunately I’m not the winner of the bread and my OH is tied to his role.

will have to look for something similar.
Ideally I’m not wanting to jack job in just yet!

 

[Lexi_]

NEBOSH and IOSHH courses aren’t super expensive if you want to invest a little bit of your own money in getting qualified. I’ve just bought a couple for my team at work and I was expecting them to be pricier!

 

[mini_b]

NEBOSH and IOSHH courses aren’t super expensive if you want to invest a little bit of your own money in getting qualified. I’ve just bought a couple for my team at work and I was expecting them to be pricier!

Ive briefly looked at this - is this something I can do without having a role in the relevant field?

i sound very unprepared by asking the above but sometimes training providers can be a bit “ small print - oh we forgot to mention, you need to have at least 35 years experience in a relevant role and be working towards xyz”

i don’t mind investing some of my own cash if I can do this alongside my current job, then it would make sense that I stand a better chance than zero securing a role nearby.

 

[DabDab]

Tbh I don't know anyone in H&S who didn't go there via a sideways move.

A NEBOSH cert would probably be enough to get you an entry level H&S officer role. A NEBOSH diploma is the ideal, but most companies don't expect that at entry level. It's not uncommon for people in unrelated roles to collect IOSH qualifications so if you are wanting to show clear intent on your CV then best to go for a NEBOSH.

Go for it!

 

[Lexi_]

Ive briefly looked at this - is this something I can do without having a role in the relevant field?

i sound very unprepared by asking the above but sometimes training providers can be a bit “ small print - oh we forgot to mention, you need to have at least 35 years experience in a relevant role and be working towards xyz”

i don’t mind investing some of my own cash if I can do this alongside my current job, then it would make sense that I stand a better chance than zero securing a role nearby.

Well I’m going to preface this by saying I’m not super experienced in the field - I had a sort of sideways move last year due to a restructure so it’s a bit new to me. Also I haven’t started my IOSHH course yet although it’s paid for and waiting for me!

I booked the IOSHH Managing Safely course as a colleague did it in his last role and said it was a good intro. He was new to Facilities Management at the time and said it didn’t feel like a stretch or aimed too high. It’s a decent intro course. My longer term plan is to do the level 4 IWFM diploma and this seemed like a good stepping stone.

He’s now doing the NEBOSH General Certificate which is a bit longer and more involved, but is described in the blurb as suitable for people new to the field.

It’s worth poking around a bit on websites like the British Safety Council and IWFM to see what sort of thing catches your eye. From a professional level I think it’s one of the areas where a bit of common sense, good attention to detail and willingness to embrace a bit of boring paperwork is more important than anything else! I haven’t felt like I needed 35 years of experience before taking it on ?. If you’ve done a bit of risk assessing etc in your current role and enjoyed it, and you’re happy to do some studying, you should definitely go for it! Worth being cheeky and asking if your current place will pay for it as part of your professional development?

 

[Bionic Boy]

I admire anyone that does what you are doing. If you are in a position to do it, go for it. Never look back and think what if …..,
Good luck

 

[mini_b]

Tbh I don't know anyone in H&S who didn't go there via a sideways move.

A NEBOSH cert would probably be enough to get you an entry level H&S officer role. A NEBOSH diploma is the ideal, but most companies don't expect that at entry level. It's not uncommon for people in unrelated roles to collect IOSH qualifications so if you are wanting to show clear intent on your CV then best to go for a NEBOSH.

Go for it!

brilliant - from what I have gathered so far I thought NEBOSH was the go to initially.

i do not personally know anyone in H&S, this is all a huge help sharing this info!

I am the self appointed safety officer at our 3 man band gig at the moment. All said very tongue in cheek, basically if I’m there that day the job stops. They do the slightly iffy stuff when I’m not there!

 

[mini_b]

.If you’ve done a bit of risk assessing etc in your current role and enjoyed it, and you’re happy to do some studying, you should definitely go for it! Worth being cheeky and asking if your current place will pay for it as part of your professional development?

well, I AM thinking of paying for it as my continued professional development… eventually in another role. It would be me footing the bill ?

I’m wanting to switch careers completely, as I’ve said a hundred times I love my job but the nature of it and my employment isn’t sustainable for next 20+ years unfortunately. My *partner will be retiring in not too distant future

*business

 

[Red-1]

I planned on going into H&S risk assessment at one point. I did a City and Guilds qualification and was risk assessing all sorts commercially for work. I spoke to a few people who said a NEBOSH was the way to go.

I planned on going freelance for businesses, after helping a motorcycle instructor do his. I found I didn't need to know about motorcycles, just needed to ask the correct questions and his risk assessment was easy to do.

I could see many small businesses who would pay to have it done.

Didn't do it in the end, I retired from a full on career and decided to have a breather somewhere where I went in at a certain time and was done when work finished. But, I do think there would be a business there freelance. It would be a backbreaker until you got some under your belt, after that I thought cut and paste would be your friend. I was going to specialise in one type of business, so that would have made it easier to get up to speed.

I didn't price up the insurance, but I bet it would have been pricy LOL.

 

[mini_b]

I planned on going into H&S risk assessment at one point. I did a City and Guilds qualification and was risk assessing all sorts commercially for work. I spoke to a few people who said a NEBOSH was the way to go.

I planned on going freelance for businesses, after helping a motorcycle instructor do his. I found I didn't need to know about motorcycles, just needed to ask the correct questions and his risk assessment was easy to do.

I could see many small businesses who would pay to have it done.

Didn't do it in the end, I retired from a full on career and decided to have a breather somewhere where I went in at a certain time and was done when work finished. But, I do think there would be a business there freelance. It would be a backbreaker until you got some under your belt, after that I thought cut and paste would be your friend. I was going to specialise in one type of business, so that would have made it easier to get up to speed.

I didn't price up the insurance, but I bet it would have been pricy LOL.

i think I’d like to go self employed eventually, that would be the plan.
I’m wholly irrelevant in anything at the moment! I think it would be a huge reach personally going off as a freelance risk assessor!

but… the industry I currently work in DOES require tons of risk assessments which are usually submitted by a you as the sole trader to the relevant H&S bods on the site you’re working at. I suppose that’s actually something to think about as I have experience in that field.

 

[mini_b]

It would appear (if anyone is interested!)

As mentioned by a few of you, NEBOSH is the one employers are looking for
Certificate (A Level)
Diploma (degree level)

if you go straight for diploma with no prior workplace experience or not having done the certificate you may find it very difficult to pass.

it is suggested that if you’re starting from scratch, IOSH managing / working safely might be beneficial to study beforehand but not necessary.

 

[chaps89]

No help to you at all but I’m now very intrigued about what you currently do!

 

[Ossy2]

I work in a consultancy as an EHS due diligence consultant I assess EHS risks of a company during sales and acquisitions. It’s a mix of office work and going to the sites themselves and auditing them. Happy to help if want anymore info.

 

[Dave's Mam]

I'm going to look at those mentioned, as I'm interested in H & S as my current job is in Facilities Management in Statutory Compliance.

 

[mini_b]

I work in a consultancy as an EHS due diligence consultant I assess EHS risks of a company during sales and acquisitions. It’s a mix of office work and going to the sites themselves and auditing them. Happy to help if want anymore info.

i will certainly send you a message later on, thank you so much!

 

[Boots*McGruber]

I’m in a similar position. Current role involves a lot of working away from home and not something I want to do forever. I have to do risk assessments at work and thinking of a change of direction. During lockdown I did an NCRQ qualification and I’m now working towards NEBOSH. Difficult to balance work, horses and studying but hopefully I can do it. H&S is often a second career. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[mini_b]

I’m in a similar position. Current role involves a lot of working away from home and not something I want to do forever. I have to do risk assessments at work and thinking of a change of direction. During lockdown I did an NCRQ qualification and I’m now working towards NEBOSH. Difficult to balance work, horses and studying but hopefully I can do it. H&S is often a second career. Good luck and keep us posted.

from the sounds of it you have 5 years to complete both parts to your NEBOSH certificate/diploma. I’ll also be juggling work, horses and a family.
Good luck to you too

 

[Orangehorse]

Completely possible, although I daresay the competition is fierce.