Woodward News

UK Summer Holiday – Office Closure

UK Summer Holiday – Office Closure

Our team will be taking a break for the Summer Holiday period and our office will be closed during this time.

  • Our office will close at 1.30pm on Wednesday 31 July 2024.
  • Our office open again at 8.30am on Wednesday 04 September 2024.

While we will not be able to answer the telephone while the office is closed, we can still be contacted by e-mail on info@woodwardgroup.co.uk over this period.

Alumni Case Study: Lisa Kirkbride

Woodward Alumni member Lisa Kirkbride was recently interview by NEBOSH :

“A career in health and safety seemed like a natural step when I left the Army.”

Lisa Kirkbride joined the British Army in 1997. After 25 years with the Royal Military Police, she left in April 2022 to take up a role in health and safety. In this case study, Lisa tells us about her transition from the forces to civilian life and how NEBOSH helped her.

Lisa, tell me about your role within the British Army.

I joined the British Army in July 1997. After completing my training, I was posted to Northern Ireland. Over the course of my military career, I served in various locations, including the UK, Germany, Cyprus, Canada, and Afghanistan. During my tenure with the Royal Military Police, I held several key roles, including:

• Section Commander
• Platoon Second-in-Command (2IC)
• Police Office Manager
• Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS)
• Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS)
• WO1 Policing

I left the military in April 2022 at the end of my contract.

When approaching the end of your contract with the Royal Military Police, did you have an idea of what career you wanted to transition into?

Throughout my service, I consistently applied health and safety policies and procedures at various levels and conducted numerous audits of vast locations. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in health and safety after my military service, so I obtained the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety with Woodward SHE Ltd during my transition. Additionally, I acquired other civilian qualifications while working as a Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) and Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS), which allowed me to demonstrate relevant experience in health and safety.

Since December 2022, I have been employed as the Health, Safety and Facilities Manager for Pioneer Foodservice in Carlisle, covering Cumbria, North East and Southern Scotland. To further solidify my expertise, I am due to begin the NEBOSH Level 6 National Diploma for Health and Safety Management Professionals with Woodward SHE Ltd later this year.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in health and safety?

Having been a Royal Military Police Officer in the Army for 25 years, I was naturally inquisitive and completed a number of appointments where I was required to carry out health and safety duties or accident investigations. A career in health and safety seemed like a natural step when I left the Army following the completion of my contract. While I was waiting for my current opportunity in a health and safety role, I was employed as a transport manager, which required me to carry out accident investigations and safety audits.

What drew you to choose a NEBOSH qualification?

NEBOSH qualifications are globally recognised, they provide a range of qualifications to suit various industries and career paths, all of which complement each other. Many organisations are increasingly prioritising employee safety, and companies recognise the value of having skilled safety professionals on their teams.

Did you use ELCAS funding to fund your NEBOSH studies?

I used Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) funding to complete my NEBOSH National General certificate to cement my experience throughout my military career. I am due to commence my NEBOSH Diploma this year and will utilise the last ELCAS to partially fund this.

Find out more about utilising your ELCAS funding for your NEBOSH training here: https://www.woodward-group.co.uk/elc-funded-training/

What is the best piece of health and safety advice you have been given throughout your career in the forces?

Communication is key and make sure you have a plan from the outset which should be reviewed at all times.

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Adapted from an article posted on the NEBOSH website here: https://www.nebosh.org.uk/our-news-and-events/case-studies/a-career-in-health-and-safety-seemed-like-a-natural-step-when-i/

NEBOSH Ethical Practice Report (October-December 2023)

There are no easy routes to a NEBOSH qualification. Learners have to study hard and complete rigorous assessments, demonstrating their knowledge and understanding. That’s why NEBOSH qualifications are valued by professionals and organisations around the world.

Unfortunately, some people try to cheat to gain a NEBOSH qualification. NEBOSH therefore has strict processes and dedicated experts to prevent and detect malpractice.

NEBOSH has recently updated its Malpractice Policy to add clarification about the use of AI in assessment answers and has implemented additional checks for these into their systems.

This edition of the NEBOSH quarterly Ethical Practice Report (October – December 2023) gave the following overview of recent malpractice cases and the penalties and sanctions given:

If you have any evidence about possible malpractice, please report it to NEBOSH at: postassessment@nebosh.org.uk.

All of the past Ethical Practice Reports can be downloaded from the NEBOSH website here: https://www.nebosh.org.uk/guidance/ethical-practice-repo

NEBOSH and L’OREAL ~ International Women’s Health and Safety Bursary 2024

BREAKING NEWS ~ Woodward SHE Ltd are delighted to be able to announce that NEBOSH have chosen ourselves as the Learning Partner to deliver the prestigious L’Oréal International Bursary 2024 training course. We look forward to welcoming the ten successful applicants onto the course this summer.

NEBOSH and L’Oreal have joined forces once again to collaborate on a bursary that supports women who aspire to build a career in health and safety in 2024.

Following the success of last year’s NEBOSH L’Oreal International Bursary, which attracted nearly 200 applications from women all over the world, the bursary has now grown to accomodate double the amount of winners. This means that there is now the opportunity for ten women to win the opportunity to study for the NEBOSH International General Certificate with their study and assessment fees paid for by the bursary.

The aim of the bursary to develop more learning opportunities for women, and to address the under-representation of women in the health and safety industry, with some research indicating that women make up just 18-27% of those in the profession.

Maria Anderson, Global Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, holds four NEBOSH qualifications and is a member of the Bursary judging panel.

She says: “I am proud to be a part of the NEBOSH L’Oréal Bursary judging panel because it allows me the privilege of contributing to the recognition and support of women dedicated to occupational health and safety, an initiative that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Being entrusted with the responsibility to evaluate and reward the passion, commitment, and innovation demonstrated by applicants is not only an honour but also a testament to the importance of fostering excellence in safety practices. Together, we empower the next generation of professionals to make a lasting impact, creating a safer and healthier workplace for all. I look forward to working with my fellow judges to identify and support the next generation of leaders in this field.”

The bursary is open to any woman based outside of the United Kingdom, and applications can only be submitted through the NEBOSH L’Oréal International Bursary Application form.

Applications close on the 27th February 2024 at 5pm UK local time.

NB: Applications for this bursary are now closed.

NEBOSH Ethical Practice Report (July-September 2023)

There are no easy routes to a NEBOSH qualification. Learners have to study hard and complete rigorous assessments, demonstrating their knowledge and understanding. That’s why NEBOSH qualifications are valued by professionals and organisations around the world.

Unfortunately, some people try to cheat to gain a NEBOSH qualification. NEBOSH therefore has strict processes and dedicated experts to prevent and detect malpractice.

NEBOSH has recently updated its Malpractice Policy to add clarification about the use of AI in assessment answers and has implemented additional checks for these into their systems.

This edition of the NEBOSH quarterly Ethical Practice Report (July – September 2023) gave the following overview of recent malpractice cases and the penalties and sanctions given:

If you have any evidence about possible malpractice, please report it to NEBOSH at: postassessment@nebosh.org.uk.

All of the past Ethical Practice Reports can be downloaded from the NEBOSH website here: https://www.nebosh.org.uk/guidance/ethical-practice-report

UK Christmas Holiday – Office Closure

UK Christmas and New Year Holiday – Office Closure

Our team will be taking an extended break for the Christmas and New Year Holiday period and our office will be closed during this time.

  • Our office will close at 1.30pm on Thursday 21 December 2023.
  • Our office open again at 8.30am on Wednesday 03 January 2024.

While we will not be able to answer the phone while the office is closed, we can still be contacted by e-mail on info@woodwardgroup.co.uk over this period.

We would like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year!

NEBOSH Graduation & Awards Ceremony 2023

We were honored to be invited to attend the NEBOSH Graduation & Awards Ceremonies which took place on Monday 11 September 2023 at the University of Warwick as VIP guests, accompanying our learner Lindsay Platt who won the Award for the best candidate in the NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK) qualification.