Case Studies

The top line of the T represents the broad knowledge, skills and experience the person possesses.The vertical line is about their deeper professional level specialist competence. Employees who are T-shaped are seen as being able to improve the quality of decision making within organisations and are capable of thinking more strategically. 

Stewart Mardle, who works for telecommunications giant BT, is a great example of a modern T-shaped manager. He has always been a BT man, having joined the company as an apprentice engineer after leaving school. Since then he has been a Planning Supervisor, an IT Manager, an Estate and Property Manager and a Relationship Manager for BT’s Reach programme. These roles have helped him to develop the broad knowledge that all T-shaped managers need.

At various stages of his career development, Stewart has taken formal qualifications that have been relevant to his roles. So when he was initially asked by BT to take on some health and safety responsibilities, which would require him to pass the NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, he was happy to say yes. Soon after he was offered his current role of Senior Manager Tower & Rigging Policy.

“My team and I are responsible for the health, safety, welfare and compliance of around 120 radio and rigging engineers,” Stewart told us. “Our remit covers not only BT’s 300 radio towers, but also radio equipment installed across more than 6,000 sites. We deliver training, carry out audits and implement safer and better ways of working. Inevitably, given the nature of the work, I’m now seen as a working at height specialist, but Construction, Design and Management, Electro Magnetic Fields and environmental regulations are also important aspects of the job.”

When BT offered Stewart this role, it was made clear that he would need to take the NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. This qualification and the NEBOSH Environmental Certificate now feature on his impressive CV. 

“The best thing about NEBOSH was it took me, in a relatively short space of time, to a place where I felt more comfortable and confident in my competence for the role. It’s a big, as well as a rewarding responsibility. After all, it’s about making sure people return home safely to their families each day. I believe, and so does BT, that you have to be suitably qualified and have an appropriate professional status for this kind of role.”

What is interesting is that while Stewart has used NEBOSH to develop the vertical line in his T-shape, he is also encouraging others in his wider team to gain the NEBOSH National General Certificate as a way of strengthening their broader knowledge and skills. “Their core skills are different, but I can see the NEBOSH National General Certificate gives them more confidence around health and safety and importantly, an ability to make better decisions and feel empowered.”

Whether you are like Stewart and want to develop a professional specialism, or want to broaden your health and safety and management capabilities, NEBOSH has the perfect qualification to help you be what employers want you to be - a bit more T-shaped!