Posted By Craig Mills
Hi,

Iam due to leave the Armed Forces within the next 6 months after serving for 12 years. During this period I have amassed a large amount of experience with regards to Health & Safety in the workplace. I compile Risk Assessments, COSHH assessments, DSE assessments along with numerous other H&S requirements. I am a Quality Auditor to BS9001 standard, and have recently completed the IOSH Managing Safely course. I wish to pursue a career in Health & Safety, utilising the experience gained whilst managing and supervising upto 20 personnel.

If anyone has any advice, I would be extremely grateful.

Many Thanks

Posted By Tim
Craig,

I left the forces around 18 months ago, and am now in a full time health and safety role.

I think that it would be worthwhile looking at doing the NEBOSH Certificate or construction certificate, and applying for Tech IOSH asap, but check the rules about membership first. Many private sector jobs still specify certificate, but most local authorities seem to ask for a diploma, and IOSH membership.

I would also try to get some civilian experience, with a local company or local authority before you leave, may be one or two days a week, if you can get away.

what part of the country are you in?

Posted By Glyn Atkinson
When my brother in law left the RAF ten years ago, he was able to study in his last few months on courses that would benefit his future employment - the General Certificate being one on offer at that time.

He also did a course on accident investigation techniques for loss adjusting purposes, another useful string to the bow.

Would it be worth seeing if any provision for takling this exam prior to you leaving is possible - certainly a cheaper way of obtaining the qualification rather than by paying for it personally ??

Have a look at training and courses on the left hand side of this page and then see if your unit command would back you to take one locally to yourself where you are stationed.

Posted By Scott Fisher
Take the Construction Cert as a part of your resettlement as the options for construction roles are far greater.

Posted By Clive Lowery
Craig,

I was in the same position 3 1/2 years ago after 24 years.

Did the General Cert then Construction Cert, both with resettlement provider in Carlisle! Also doing National Diploma with same provider.

In between the two courses I emailed all the the local consultancies in the Lincoln area and although no firm ofers, but was recommended to a nationwide construction company based in Wakefield.

Got the job and now get to do loads of travelling and no two days are the same. Haven't looked back since.

If you want any more info email me off line


Good luck

Clive

Posted By IOSH Moderator
This is a gentle reminder:

There are words that you cannot post in full.

We frown on them being posted with asterisks in strategic places.

While this happens on odd occasions we just issue a reminder. Occasionally we have suffered major outbreaks of asterisks, and then we do wade in with a bit more affirmative action.

Cheers
Forum moderator

Posted By Glen Stewart
Craig,

Lots of good responses to your questions, and some bad ! I left the Army 8 years ago with a NEBs Dip & NEBOSH GenCert as my resetlement, even allthough the course was listed for Seniors only, being a necky Corporal i applied and got the course.

Dont listen to anyone who says you need Diploma level to get a job, especially the person who replied saying your quals are worthless ! Rubbish. I left with the Cert, i saw an advert for a dream job as Safey Advisor for an international company building a power station. I applied and got the job. Having now had two previous positions building expereince i now have my own consultancy employing 3 people.

get as much on resetlement as possible, and write to all your local companies. You will be surprised how mant ex forces are in the safety field.


Good luck

Glen Stewart

Posted By Neville
Craig,

In your last remaining months, try and do other courses and if need be, pay for them yourself. I came out of the RAF 4 years ago (after 29yrs 5 months)and the resettlement grant was approx £540. This is not a great deal of money for courses but the good thing is that the accommodation that is paid for, whilst you are on the courses, comes out of a seperate budget. In other words, you can pay for an additional resettlement course yourself and the MOD will pay the accomm. The courses are then not too expensive!

I came out and did the NEBOSH Cert at Woodward in Carlisle, who I can reccomend, passing with a credit. I had already gained three other IOSH Courses and did a week at Birmingham University, doing Health, Safety and the Environment. The short Uni courses you can also do for free, if lucky enough to get one. In addition, I also did the CIPD Learning and Development course part time over 12 months, (trainers ticket).

My last two years in the 'mob' were taken up with a full time role as Health, Safety and Quality Management Advisor.

Getting a role within H&S, is or can be quite difficult, due to the numbers wanting to do the same. There are many vacancies within the construction field by comparison to those in the general.

The geography has a great deal to do with success too. I elected to return to my roots in Lancashire, which by comparison to other areas, seems quite barron for H&S posts.

I too am on the look out for work in H&S, after receiving redundancy from an engineering post. (I was the health, safety and training manager on £24k + f/e car). One thing I can tell you is that, "it aint easy". I have great success rate in getting to interviews (90%+) but I feel most employers like someone a lot less than 50 years old, although they will never reveal that. My opinion is that there is no substitute for experience.

The NEBOSH Construction Cert would be the route I would take in your shoes, or try the Dip at Carlisle.

Another tip is, take a balanced view of the input you receive on this forum, as some of it can be rather blinkered.