Case Studies

Marcus, you have had a very varied career, holding management positions in a range of sectors including the funeral industry and hospitality. Can you pinpoint when your interest in health and safety began?
I have been interested in health and safety since working in operations management roles. When I worked in hospitality, for example, I had health and safety responsibilities related to the kitchens and front-of-house spaces. I handled health and safety issues daily and delivered training to my team to ensure they were aware of and complied with company health and safety policies. I always found this aspect of my previous roles particularly rewarding and trace my interest in working in auditing or health and safety compliance to this time.

You secured your first health and safety role in 2020 after joining Abbeyfield during lockdown. How did this opportunity come about?
Opportunities in operations management were limited during the COVID-19 pandemic, so I looked outside of the sectors where I had previous experience when I needed a new role. I applied for a position with Abbeyfield, which offers a range of retirement housing and care options. I initially joined as a care assistant and worked the night shift before being promoted to a care team leader role.

I have always loved working for the organisation, so wanted to develop and progress within it. When my manager mentioned that the central health and safety team had an opening, I was really interested. She felt I would be well suited to the role and helped me arrange an informal meeting with the Head of health and safety and Lead H&S Advisor to find out more. After this meeting, I was luckily offered a health and safety advisor position to help support the team in its advisory function.

Can you tell us a little about Abbeyfield and what your role for the charity entails?
Abbeyfield has been offering a range of housing and care options for older people for 70 years. Its person-centred approach ensures that residents retain a sense of choice in a safe, warm and stimulating environment. There are almost 100 independent Abbeyfield Member Societies, and between them, they run 230 retirement homes in England and Wales. The society that I work for is the largest member society with 55 properties.

In my role, I get involved in a wide range of activities, including policy writing, answering queries, accident and incident monitoring, training, blog writing and site support visits.

I spend most of my time managing and undertaking compliance audits of the organisation's UK operations. I recently helped to source and begin to implement a brand-new compliance system which will help us digitise a lot of our current paper-based compliance monitoring. Within this new system, I designed the internal fire risk assessment documentation. Given my previous experience in hospitality, I also have a focus on food hygiene. By supporting the implementation of a robust, user friendly and well-managed system of compliance, I have helped to raise standards in this area.

I understand that you signed up for a Level 3 SHE Technician Apprentice course, delivered by NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner Compass Skills Training, to support your development. What made this option attractive to you?
It was my manager who identified this apprenticeship and provider after researching the training routes I could take. He is passionate about upskilling his team and he felt this option would support my development when I was new to the role. The apprenticeship that Compass offers also includes the NEBOSH National General Certificate, which covers many aspects of health and safety. When this option was presented to me, I felt it offered a well-rounded approach which would help me build my health and safety knowledge and practical skills at the same time.

The content from the NEBOSH Award in Environmental Awareness at Work and the NEBOSH National General Certificate were built into your apprenticeship. Can you share how these qualifications have benefited you?

• NEBOSH Award in Environmental Awareness at Work – My team has environmental duties, but prior to my studies, I had limited knowledge of this area. The content covered in the NEBOSH Award in Environmental Awareness at Work qualification strengthened my understanding and gave me a great foundation to build on in the future.
• NEBOSH National General Certificate - This qualification provides an industry-recognised standard in health and safety. It has become the backbone of my health and safety know-how. I still regularly refer to my notes when I am faced with a new or unusual challenge.

Congratulations on passing your apprenticeship with distinction. That is a huge achievement! In 2024 you went on to complete the NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety. What attracted you to this qualification and how has it helped you?
Fire safety has always been a keen area of interest for me. Taking NEBOSH's fire safety qualification helped me gain a strong baseline knowledge of the subject. After achieving this industry-recognised qualification I will be able to assist in fire risk assessments at Abbeyfield. Spending time with our fire advisor has been invaluable, as it has enabled me to add practical experience to my theoretical knowledge, strengthening my competency.

I want to keep learning about this subject. I am looking to complete my fire risk assessor level 2 accreditation, which, along with my NEBOSH Fire Safety Certificate and previous experience in property and operations management, has helped me gain associate membership in the IFSM. My next step is to take a level 4 or above fire safety course, which would help me achieve the IFSM member grade.

I understand that you have a profound hearing impairment. Did this create any challenges for you when studying and how did you overcome them?
I have always struggled to ensure I do not miss key content in a classroom environment. However, for me, classroom learning is preferable to online delivery on teams, for example, as I find it exhausting trying to hear and focus when training is delivered in this way. The Compass team was incredible in accommodating my disability and put many things in place to help me. For example, throughout my apprenticeship and NEBOSH courses, they have made sure I am seated where I can always read my trainer's lips, which makes a huge difference to me.

In September 2024, Compass Skills Training announced that you were its NEBOSH Student of the Year at its annual awards ceremony. How did this make you feel?
I was extremely proud when I heard the news. My general approach in life is to try and help people and this carried over into my NEBOSH Classroom courses. My previous experience as a trainer and manager meant I could support fellow learners with less experience, helping them to grasp how to approach their studies and structure mock questions.

I was very proud to achieve my apprenticeship and NEBOSH qualifications, but I never expected to be selected for this Award. I sometimes have imposter syndrome and discredit my own capabilities. Being recognised in this way has helped me to overcome these emotions and celebrate what I have achieved.

What is next for you in terms of your professional development?
I have already signed up for the NEBOSH Level 6 National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals, which I will begin next month. Once I have achieved this, I will look to complete a fire-specific qualification in line with my aspirations to continue building my knowledge and competency in this key area of interest.

What do you enjoy most about being a health and safety professional?
I find my work very rewarding and fulfilling. The work the health and safety team does helps to keep our colleagues and residents safe and well which is hugely rewarding.

In this profession, there is always something new to learn because things are constantly evolving. I have a real passion for continuous learning and development and am fortunate to have an employer who supports me.

What would your advice be to anyone who aspires to make health and safety their career?
Build a strong foundation of both practical experience and theoretical knowledge.

You will be keen to get stuck in, but it is important to know your limitations, knowing that these will reduce over time. I have found that health and safety professionals are very generous with their time and are happy to share what they have learnt from their own experience. While you are building your own competence, don’t be afraid to ask for advice from more experienced professionals. This is an industry that shares knowledge and experience to prevent, so go to trade shows, conferences and networking events and talk to fellow professionals.