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 2.30pm on Friday 19 December 2025.
• Our office open again at 8.30am on Monday 05 January 2026.

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.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined one of our courses this year, and to all the businesses and organizations we’ve partnered with to make workplaces safer for everyone.

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year!

The majority of health and safety job roles advertised in the UK require or prefer NEBOSH qualifications, according to the latest NEBOSH Jobs Barometer.

The research, which examined 117 individual job listings advertised between 14 July and 23 August 2025, found that more than 85% explicitly referenced NEBOSH qualifications. The NEBOSH National General Certificate was the most commonly cited, appearing in 61% of roles. The NEBOSH Diploma featured in 18%, while 12% of adverts mentioned the NEBOSH Construction Certificate.

A smaller number also referred to more specialist qualifications, such as the NEBOSH Fire Certificate, indicating a broad awareness of the qualification family across industry sectors.

Wider responsibilities
The research also provided insight into the growing breadth of responsibilities expected from health and safety professionals.

Many roles – more than four in five – included responsibility for training, while environmental oversight was required in over three-quarters of roles, and nearly three-quarters called for experience in auditing. Just under half of the adverts also placed emphasis on quality management responsibilities, pointing to a wider integration of health, safety, environmental and quality (HSEQ) functions within many organisations.

“I am deeply encouraged by how much employers value and trust NEBOSH qualifications,” said Andy Shenstone, NEBOSH Chief Executive. “Today’s health and safety professionals are expected to lead, inspire and shape safer workplaces, and I am proud that our qualification holders are being chosen to make that difference. Their work doesn’t just protect people, it saves lives.”

Beyond technical competence
Employers are also increasingly looking beyond technical competence. Communication skills were requested across all roles analysed, making them the most sought-after soft skill in the study. Other attributes regularly cited included the ability to take initiative, engage stakeholders, lead and influence others, and maintain strong organisational ability – all indicators that the health and safety professional should also be people-centred and strategically aligned.

Employers who are investing in professionals with these qualities – and who help build a strong health and safety culture – are being rewarded; organisations with generative or proactive safety cultures have higher employee satisfaction and are more likely to retain talent.*

Mike Roebuck, Senior Careers Consultant for Shirley Parsons, said: “Candidates are increasingly aware of how seriously companies take their safety culture. Our data shows a clear trend: individuals working in pathological safety cultures are far more open to new opportunities, while those in generative cultures are significantly more likely to stay. If retaining top talent is a priority, investing in a mature and authentic safety culture is essential.”

NEBOSH qualifications continue to play a central role in shaping the careers of health and safety professionals, with strong recognition from employers across a wide range of industries.

NEBOSH commissioned research that analysed 117 job listings advertised on reed.co.uk using search terms such as “Health and Safety,” “HSE,” “Compliance,” and related variations, including SHEQ, HSEQ, and Risk and Compliance.

*The Shirley Parsons UK HSEQ & Sustainability Salary and Workforce Insights Report 2025 surveyed over 1,000 UK professionals. It is available to download here: https://www.shirleyparsons.com/blog/2025/04/2025-uk-hseq-sustainability-salary-survey

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.

Cheats do not have a place in the health and safety profession.

This new edition of the NEBOSH quarterly Ethical Practice Report (April – June 2025) gave the following overview of recent malpractice cases and the penalties and sanctions given:

Together we can stamp out malpractice and protect the integrity of the health and safety profession.

Malpractice concerns

If you have any evidence about possible malpractice, please report it to NEBOSH’s dedicated team of experts at postassessment@nebosh.org.uk.

NEBOSH review every piece of information and intelligence that is sent to them. The information you provide could also support and existing investigation. However, for privacy reasons, NEBOSH cannot provide an update on individual cases or investigations.

Fraudulent online content

NEBOSH have dedicated Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) experts and lawyers who find and remove fraudulent activity such as fake certificates, assessment writing services, guarantees of 100% pass rates or claiming to have access to NEBOSH’s systems to change grades. Although it only takes minutes to post something online it can take days or weeks for NEBOSH to have it removed by the relevant platform.

If you see a fraudulent social media post or website you can help by:

• Reporting it to NEBOSH at ipr@nebosh.org.uk; and
• Reporting posts to the relevant social media platform.

Further information can be found on the NEBOSH website here: https://www.nebosh.org.uk/guidance/ethical-practice-report/

To mark World Mental Health Day today (10 October), HSE is urging employers to move beyond awareness and take practical steps to prevent work-related stress.

In 2023/24, approximately half of all self-reported cases of work-related ill health in Great Britain—whether new or ongoing—were linked to stress, depression, or anxiety, according to data from the Labour Force Survey and HSE statistics.

On average, each affected worker took 19.6 days off due to these conditions. The impact on businesses is significant – increased absence, reduced productivity, and higher staff turnover. 

Start doing 

Kayleigh Roberts, Work-Related Stress Policy Lead at HSE, said: “This World Mental Health Day, we’re asking employers to keep talking – but start doing. We regularly hear from businesses struggling with rising absence, falling performance, and high staff turnover – often caused by preventable stress at work.” 

“The good news is that even small changes can make a big difference. Taking steps like reviewing workloads, enhancing communication, or giving staff greater autonomy can lead to improved wellbeing and stronger business performance. The organisations that thrive are those that address the root causes of stress before they escalate into a crisis.” 

Support that works 

HSE’s Working Minds campaign helps employers prevent stress by focusing on 6 key areas: demands, control, support, relationships, role clarity, and change. Its 5 steps provide a clear framework for action:

• Reach out
• Recognise
• Respond
• Reflect
• make it Routine

Over 18,000 leaders have already accessed HSE’s free tools and training.  

Make one change today 

Start with one of these simple steps:  

• review workloads and deadlines
• improve communication and feedback
• use our Talking Toolkit to support conversations
• complete a stress risk assessment using our templates
• encourage managers to complete our free training module 

Protecting mental health is good for people – and good for business. You can get further tools and training at the HSE Working Minds campaign website.

Play the HSE mini game on stress at work

To mark World Mental Health Day, try the HSE mini game to learn more about stress and how it affects everyone at work. 

The goal is to reach the top in 45 seconds. Avoid red stress risks and collect green resources to boost your score. Play our free mini game now.

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Article adapted from the original post on HSE website here: https://press.hse.gov.uk/2025/10/10/world-mental-health-day-protect-your-teams-mental-health-and-your-business/

A new free online HSE building safety training programme developed with The Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) has been further improved.

A recently added quiz will help test the knowledge of thousands of resident directors being encouraged to complete the recently launched 2-hour course.

This ‘Introduction to the Building Safety Act 2022’ covers:

• getting ready for the building safety regime, including the Golden Thread
• managing building safety risks and the Safety Case Report
• resident engagement strategies, Mandatory Occurrence Reporting and compliance
• the Building Assessment Certificate process

Access the free online training here: https://buildingsafety.campaign.gov.uk/building-safety-regulator-making-buildings-safer/building-safety-regulator-news/free-building-safety-training-for-resident-directors/

In 2021 NEBOSH partnered with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to launch the NEBOSH HSE Managing Risks and Risk Assessment at Work qualification.

The qualification is rooted in a proportional approach to risk; it provides the fundamentals people need to build an effective approach to risk management in their workplace that focuses not only on the risk assessment itself, but on the practical actions needed to control and monitor those risks in order to protect people from harm. Employers benefit from the assurance that their employees are trained in the Health and Safety Executive’s best practice approach to health and safety risk management.

Four years on and this one-day qualification is proving to be increasingly popular with our clients in both Cumbria and beyond. Our most recent course was delivered in-house to Holmen Iggesund, at their Workington Mill in Cumbria, where all eight of their learners successfully completed it in April 2025.

Their results were excellent and came back as follows:

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Some of the benefits of the NEBOSH HSE Managing Risks and Risk Assessment at Work qualification are:

For further information about the NEBOSH HSE Managing Risks and Risk Assessment at Work qualification, visit: https://www.woodward-group.co.uk/courses/nebosh-hse-award-in-managing-risk-and-risk-assessment-at-work/

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a free online learning module to help UK employers get to grips with the risk assessment of work-related stress. 

The launch coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week (12 – 18 May 2025) and expands the HSE’s Working Minds campaign, which supports businesses in preventing work-related stress and supporting good mental health. 

With around half of all work-related ill health attributed to stress, depression and anxiety, the new module provides step-by-step guidance for employers on conducting effective risk assessments, identifying root causes of work-related stress, and implementing solutions that have a real impact. 

Kayleigh Roberts from HSE’s Engagement and Policy Division said: “Preventing work-related stress isn’t just the right thing to do for your workers—it’s also a legal requirement. Our new online learning module aims to make it easier for businesses, particularly small to medium organisations to understand their obligations and what they need to do on a practical level.” 

“This isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about embedding good practices into everyday business operations. By taking a proactive approach, employers can improve productivity, reduce sickness absence, and retain their valued workers. The module provides all the practical templates, tools and resources needed to get started or to review existing practices.” 

HSE highlights six main areas that can lead to work-related stress if not managed properly: demands, control, support, relationships, role, and change. 

Businesses are encouraged to implement the Working Minds campaign 5Rs approach to support the risk assessment process: 

1. Reach out and have conversations 
2. Recognise the signs and causes of stress 
3. Respond to risks by agreeing action points 
4. Reflect on the actions taken 
5. Make it Routine to check in regularly 

Employers can register at https://workingminds.focusgames.com/ for the online learning module to access step-by-step advice, practical tools, and downloadable templates. 

Visit the Working Minds campaign website for more information about the Working Minds campaign and to download materials. 

A recent survey found that nine in ten learners would recommend a health and safety qualification for an industry with one of the highest number of fatalities: construction. In 2023/4, 51 people in Great Britain lost their lives from working in the construction industry, equivalent to 37% of all work-related fatalities that year (1).

The NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction qualification is closely aligned to Construction (Design & Management) (CDM) Regulations. During the course learners will cover a broad range of topics to help them:

• Recognise, assess and control common construction hazards
• Develop safe systems of work
• Take part in incident investigations
• Advise on the roles, competencies and duties under construction legislation
• Positively influence health and safety culture
• Confidently challenge unsafe behaviours
• Help manage contractors.

The survey also found that nine in ten learners felt their ability to identify hazards and risks in the construction industry had improved. Now, refreshed for 2025 based on their feedback and a panel of industry experts, the qualification’s syllabus covers additional industry challenges, such as fatigue and inspectors’ powers, to further solidify their learning and maintain standards.

Michael Smith, Response Supervisor – Housing Repairs for South Holland District Council, says: “I found the whole course extremely interesting; the study and work-based scenarios were good and worthwhile. I thought the content of the course was pitched correctly, and the syllabus covered it [the topic] in great depth. Having gained the qualification, I am now in a position where I feel that I can make a positive impact within the workplace.”

A level 7 qualification, the NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK) will continue to be recognised by CSCS, the UK construction industry’s certificate scheme. Holders are eligible to apply for CSCS’s Academically Qualified Person (AQP) card.

For further information visit: https://www.woodward-group.co.uk/courses/nebosh-health-and-safety-management-for-construction-uk/

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In a 2024 survey of people who hold the NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction UK and International qualifications, 100% of international respondents would recommend the qualification and 96% of UK respondents would recommend the qualification. 100% of international respondents and 94% of UK respondents also agreed that their ability to identify hazards and risks in the industry had improved.

1. ttps://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/fatals.htm

The Health and Safety Angels Podcast

Daisy Silcock and Lynsey Mason, the Health and Safety Angels, help you get to the bottom of health and safety in an easy, non jargon way in this superb podcast. They are busting the barriers of health and safety in the workplace, without the big words and monotone voices. Making health and safety accessible to everyone !

They are Health and safety tutors with a bit of “sass”, who are passionate about learning.

They take listeners back to the beginning to discuss what health and safety is, why it is important and what everything actually means. This isn’t a podcast for H&S professionals but for those that need to understand H&S for their business or their role within the workplace.

The Health and Safety Angels podcast started in August 2023, with over 30 episodes now available covering a wide range of H&S subject areas, it really is worth a listen.

Daisy and Lynsey are both open to feedback and suggestions, to help them deliver episodes that you’re interested in. Please get in touch and let them know if there is anything you want to know about!

You can find them on instagram here https://www.instagram.com/healthandsafety.angels

or pop them an email on healthandsafetyangels@gmail.com

In 2025, NEBOSH will withdraw the International Technical Certificate in Oil and Gas Operational Safety (IOG). The qualification’s content has been superseded by the NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Process Safety Management, which teaches best practices suitable for all process industries, including oil and gas.

Key Information for learners

• Final registration date: 31 March 2025
• Final assessment date: 30 September 2026

How long do I have to complete my qualification?

Registered learners have until 30 September 2026 to take the IOG1 assessment. If you pass the IOG1 unit at an assessment sitting on or before 30 September 2026, you will have achieved the qualification and receive a certificate to mark your achievement, in line with NEBOSH’s normal processes.

What if I do not pass the IOG1 assessment on 30 September 2026?

There will be no further IOG1 assessments after 30 September 2026. If you are unsuccessful in assessments on or before this date, you will be unable to continue the qualification. We recommend speaking to your Learning Partner about the NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Process Safety Management which is an alternative qualification.

Alternative qualification

NEBOSH recommends learners consider the NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Process Safety Management (PSM) qualification as an alternative.

The PSM qualification was developed with Great Britain’s regulator, the Health and Safety Executive and was reviewed and refreshed in 2024. During that process, 97% of learners rated it ‘excellent’ or ‘good’, and 97% would also recommend it to others. The qualification is designed to improve understanding and reduce health and safety risks in the process industries. It gives learners a broad understanding of the accepted principles and recognised industrial practices so that they can contribute to the control of process safety hazards.

You can read more about the NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Process Safety Management qualification on our website here: https://www.woodward-group.co.uk/courses/nebosh-hse-certificate-in-process-safety-management/

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This article was adapted from the original news post by NEBOSH here: https://www.nebosh.org.uk/our-news-and-events/our-news/withdrawal-of-the-nebosh-international-technical-certificate-in/