Case Studies

When did you decide you wanted to work in health and safety and how did you secure your first opportunity in the profession?
I actually fell into health and safety quite by accident. While working for a previous employer, I was approached when a role in the team became available, as they thought it might be something I’d be interested in. At the time, it wasn’t something I had considered, but I decided to throw caution to the wind and give it a go. From the outset, it became clear that health and safety would provide the kind of challenge I was looking for.

That decision has really shaped my career. I started by building my knowledge through formal training while also gaining hands-on experience in the role. Being able to apply what I was learning in a real working environment helped me quickly develop both confidence and competence. I was thrown in at the deep end from the outset, but that experience made me determined to learn fast and grow within the profession.

The first NEBOSH qualification you took was the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety in 2017.

Why did you choose it?
I chose the NEBOSH National General Certificate because it’s widely recognised as the starting point for a career in health and safety. As I was new to the profession, I wanted a qualification that would give me a solid foundation in the key principles, including risk management, legal requirements, and hazard control. I attended a classroom course delivered by Astutis, which gave me the structure and support I needed at that early stage, especially as I was balancing learning alongside a full-time role in a new discipline. I relished the experience of joining others in the profession for the training as this provided valuable insights and ideas that I have carried forward with me.

How did achieving this qualification help your career?
Achieving the qualification was a real turning point. It not only gave me the technical knowledge I needed but also helped build my confidence in applying that knowledge in practice.

It strengthened my credibility and demonstrated my commitment to developing in the role. From there, it opened further opportunities and gave me the platform to progress into more senior positions. It also gave me a hunger for learning and, when I joined Blue Group, I was adamant I wanted to study the NEBOSH Diploma alongside my work.

You achieved your goal of completing the NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health in 2022, once again choosing to study with NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner Astutis. Can you tell us why you chose this qualification and what benefits you gained from this success?
I wanted to take my knowledge and capability to the next level, particularly after joining Blue Group, where my role became more strategic. The Diploma is well respected within the profession and aligns with progression towards IOSH Chartered membership, so it felt like the natural next step.

I chose to study again with Astutis because of my previous positive experience. Their support, structure, and resources really suited the way I learn. This time, though, with a young baby and a busy job, I decided to take the self-study route. I set myself the goal of achieving the Diploma within a year, and I did just that. It was a huge challenge, but I found that determination really can see you through.

Completing the Diploma has made a significant difference to how I approach my role. It has strengthened my ability to think strategically, influence at senior level, and develop management systems that genuinely add value to the business. It also gave me the confidence to step into a Group HSEQ Director position at Blue Machinery (Group) Ltd and operate effectively at that level.

What is the best thing you have learned through your NEBOSH studies?
One of the most valuable things I’ve learned is that health and safety is about far more than compliance. While understanding legislation and standards is important, real success comes from influencing people, shaping culture, and embedding health and safety into everyday business activities.

That shift in mindset, from a purely compliance-based approach to one that is more people-focused and proactive, has been key to how I now operate as a leader in the profession. Culture, to me, is the single most important thing we should be looking to influence as health and safety professionals; get that right and the rest follows.

You have worked for Blue Group for over 5 years. Can you tell us about the company and its health and safety ethos?
Blue Machinery (Group) Ltd is a leading provider of materials processing and handling equipment, supporting sectors such as recycling, quarrying, and waste management.

Over the time I’ve been with the business, I’ve seen a real evolution in its approach to health and safety. There is a strong commitment from leadership not only to meeting compliance requirements, but to continually improving and raising standards across the organisation.

The focus is very much on proactive risk management, engaging employees, and creating a culture where health and safety is part of everything we do, rather than something that sits separately. That ongoing commitment has been key to driving positive change across the business.

As Group HSEQ Director with the company, what are your main responsibilities?
As Group HSEQ Director, my role is both varied and strategic, with a strong focus on ensuring that health, safety, environmental, and quality considerations are embedded across the entire organisation. I am responsible for developing and implementing the overall HSEQ strategy, ensuring it aligns with both legal requirements and wider business objectives.

A key part of my role involves maintaining compliance with relevant legislation while also driving continuous improvement across all areas of the business. I lead the development and management of our integrated management systems, ensuring they remain effective, practical, and aligned with industry best practice.

I also work closely with senior leadership, providing guidance and advice on risk, compliance, and performance, while helping to shape decision-making at a strategic level. We work in some challenging environments, and every day is different, with new risks and considerations to manage. My role requires a lot of problem solving, adapting, and working with people rather than against them, which I think is why I find it so enjoyable.

Alongside this, I am heavily involved in promoting a positive safety culture, engaging with employees at all levels, and ensuring that health and safety is seen as a shared responsibility. To me, our people are the key to our HSEQ success, so workforce engagement is by far my favourite part of the role.

Another important aspect of my role is overseeing audits, inspections, and incident investigations, ensuring that any learning is captured and used to continually improve our systems and ways of working. I don’t want Blue Group to be merely compliant; I want it to be at the front of our industry, leading the way for other businesses.

In 2024 you played a pivotal role in Blue Machinery achieving three globally recognised accreditations (ISO 45001, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001). Can you give any insights or advice to others embarking on this journey?
Achieving ISO 45001, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 in 2024 was a significant milestone, and one that required a great deal of planning, collaboration, and commitment across the business.

One of the biggest factors in our success was securing strong leadership commitment from the outset. Without visible support, it is very difficult to embed meaningful and lasting change. It is also important to take the time to understand your starting point through a thorough gap analysis, as this helps ensure efforts are focused where they are needed most.

Engaging employees at all levels is equally important. Management systems only work if they are understood and used in practice, so involving people in the process helps ensure they are both practical and sustainable.

Keeping things simple also goes a long way. Overly complex systems can quickly become difficult to maintain. We are constantly rethinking our systems to ensure they are user friendly and reflect feedback from our team.

Bringing the standards together into one integrated system made a huge difference for us, rather than treating them as three separate exercises. Finally, it is important to see certification not as the end goal, but as part of an ongoing journey of continuous improvement. If ISOs are seen as a tick box exercise, they are simply not worth your while.

What qualities and attributes do you believe help someone to be a successful H&S professional?
In my experience, being a successful health and safety professional is about much more than technical knowledge. Strong communication and influencing skills are essential, as you need to be able to engage people at all levels and encourage positive behaviours. You will spend a lot of time listening to people and establishing way to overcome objections!

Building relationships and trust is a big part of that, as it directly impacts how effective you can be in your role. Having a practical, solutions-focused mindset and the ability to think in a risk-based way also helps in finding balanced and workable approaches.

It’s important to have attention to detail, but also the ability to step back and see the bigger picture. There are times when you need resilience and confidence too, particularly when challenging decisions or behaviours that may impact safety.

Ultimately though, having a genuine passion for protecting people and improving workplaces is what really drives long-term success.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of their health and safety career?
I would always recommend starting with a solid foundation, such as the NEBOSH General Certificate, and gaining as much practical experience as possible alongside your studies. Talk to those who have been through the process.

Be proactive and take opportunities when they come, even if, like me, you find yourself stepping into health and safety unexpectedly.

Getting involved in things like audits, risk assessments, and improvement projects will really help build your confidence and understanding.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn from others around you and focus on building strong relationships across the business. Most importantly, remember that health and safety is about people, developing your communication and influencing soft skills will be just as important as your technical knowledge as your career progresses.