Number of young people taking health and safety qualifications doubles
Monday, 27 November 2017
The number of people aged 25 and under studying health and safety qualifications has more than doubled in the last five years according to the latest information from NEBOSH.
For people wishing to pursue a career in the industry, NEBOSH qualifications provide students with a viable alternative to university or as complementary study to vocational routes such as apprenticeships; 90% of job advertisements* for safety, health and environmental (SHE) roles ask for one or more NEBOSH qualifications.
Twenty five year old Claire Dustan (pictured) is one such student. She decided not to go to university and landed a role as Health and Safety Administrator. Claire soon set her sights on career progression and joined Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group where she was encouraged to take the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.
She said: “It was brilliant! I could relate what I was learning through NEBOSH to Marshall, even though aerospace is quite specialist all my learning had a practical side I could use at work. Achieving the NEBOSH General Certificate was a huge confidence boost and helped me to kick start the progression I was looking for; I’ve since been promoted to Lead Health, Safety and Environment Coordinator.”
Teresa Budworth, NEBOSH Chief Executive, added: “The increasing number of young people choosing to follow a career in health and safety is a really positive trend. Organisations in every industry across the world employ health and safety personnel and there are many interesting and rewarding roles available. It is a great career option – practitioners really can make a difference by helping to save lives, prevent ill health and protect the environment.”
*The NEBOSH Jobs Barometer Survey reviewed 100 nationally advertised health and safety positions in the UK between 25 January 2017 and 24 February 2017.