Case Studies

1) Gergana, you work for CCS Group Limited. Can you tell us a little bit about the organisation?
CCS Group Limited is a well-established provider of track, civil engineering, construction and maintenance services to the rail industry and has been helping to keep people moving across the UK network for over 30 years. Today CCS is a major supplier of a wide range of multi-disciplinary services to rail owners, operators and maintainers. Its services aim to provide a sustainable future for the rail industry and enhance the lives of people and their communities, and include capital works and infrastructure, rail, support services, infrastructure maintenance, welding, safety-critical resources, power systems, mechanical and electrical services, signals and telecoms, and safety training.

2) Your role with CCS Group Limited is as a Health and Safety Advisor. What does this entail?
My role as a H&S Advisor is multi-faceted; I am involved in both compliance-related tasks and raising employee and management awareness of safety issues. I undertake site inspections, audits and risk assessments as well as conducting accident and incident investigations. It’s also an important part of my role to motivate and inspire people, making sure they are aware of health, safety, quality and environmental issues through Tool Box Talks and H&S initiatives. I am also a champion for the company’s integrated management system (IMS), making sure that both employees and contractors adhere to its requirements.

3) Can you tell us about your past experiences and what led you to pursue a career in health and safety?
I always planned to have a career in health and safety because it allows me to make a tangible difference in people's lives. By ensuring that safety protocols are followed and risks are minimised, I am ultimately protecting individuals from harm and injury. This sense of purpose and the impact I can make is highly fulfilling and rewarding.

4) You have completed your NEBOSH National General Certificate and NEBOSH National Diploma, for which you won the Best Candidate award at our 2023 Graduation. Why did you take these qualifications and what made you choose NEBOSH?
I took my NEBOSH qualifications to enhance my safety knowledge. I chose NEBOSH because the course was designed to provide comprehensive information about occupational safety and health. I believe that this helps professionals with NEBOSH qualifications to be better equipped to identify and mitigate workplace hazards, ensuring a safer working environment for themselves and their colleagues.

Did you enjoy the course?
I did enjoy it; with each week of tuition and every hour of private study, I felt my confidence as a health and safety practitioner grow because I was gaining the technical knowledge to provide professional, practical advice to my employer.

How do your NEBOSH qualifications benefit you?
Having NEBOSH qualifications helps me to progress professionally and enhances my skills, which helps me make the workplace safer and healthier.

5) Can you explain how your role developed or any changes you made/want to make in the business after completing your Diploma?
Having a NEBOSH qualification has helped me perform my role more efficiently. I am committed to health and safety and am currently working hard to promote a safe work environment and to continue to maintain a good health and safety record at CCS. This is a source of competitive advantage and helps to build trust in the company's reputation and brand, so it’s important to get our employees to support this as well.

6) What’s next for you in terms of your professional development?
I am planning to expand my knowledge of health and safety across a range of industries. This is a great way of enhancing my skills and should allow me to help lead health and safety improvements in any future companies I work for.

7) What do you enjoy most about being a health and safety professional?
What I enjoy most about being a health and safety professional is that it’s a global profession, offering opportunities to work all over the world across any industry. Every day is unique.

8) Looking back on your career to date, what achievements are you most proud of?
My NEBOSH Best Candidate Award in 2023 is my greatest accomplishment, and the one of which I am most proud. An unanticipated dream come true.

9) What would your advice be to anyone at the start of their health and safety career?
My advice is that they need to be passionate about it, work hard and consistently, set high goals for themselves and try to elevate their standards on a daily basis.