I just wanted to say goodbye - sort of... As you may have been seen on another thread I have been unable to get work recently, despite being CMIOSH and with 10 years of experience under my belt. Living 'up north' doesn't help as there are few jobs in this part of the country but I don't want to move from my beloved hills, which form the basis of my social life. Some may also remember that I had been doing some soul searching over the last couple of years about whether I should leave the industry anyway. I find the industry depressing in all honesty, always the villain of the piece as seen from all quarters; even my own peers being as I am a Consultant and I am CMIOSH!! - booo hisss ;-) So, with me being unable to find work in H&S I am taking a huge risk and buying into a franchise doing something completely different - flirting with my artistic side!! It may or may not work but there's no H&S work for me right now so I guess I might as well give it a shot. So to the 'sort of' comment. Due to the nature of the franchise I am going to be a little sneaky and try and get some casual first aid (and possibly H&S if I have to) trainer work on the side - I've made some initial enquiries which look promising. Not well paid being a first aid trainer but maybe a bit more rewarding. Gives me some money until I can make the franchise pay and also if it doesn't work out at least I can say on my CV I've still been doing H&S related work and also keep my CMIOSH status ticking over for now. Sort of not burning my bridges, if it doesn't work out I might be back!! So goodbye. I leave with some sadness at leaving behind a career that I've worked hard at and also paid me well!! But also heaving a slight sigh of relief not to be seen as the enemy anymore and not to watch the profession fighting itself as well as the outside world. I may be back if it doesn't work out. I may pop in from time to time to be nosy and see what's going on. But as of the New Year this is it. Best of luck to you all :-)

As a long termer on this forum I just wanted to say goodbye - sort of... As you may have been seen on another thread I have been unable to get work recently, despite being CMIOSH and with 10 years of experience under my belt. Living 'up north' doesn't help as there are few jobs in this part of the country but I don't want to move from my beloved hills, which form the basis of my social life. Some may also remember that I had been doing some soul searching over the last couple of years about whether I should leave the industry anyway. I find the industry depressing in all honesty, always the villain of the piece as seen from all quarters; even my own peers being as I am a Consultant and I am CMIOSH!! - booo hisss ;-) So, with me being unable to find work in H&S I am taking a huge risk and buying into a franchise doing something completely different - flirting with my artistic side!! It may or may not work but there's no H&S work for me right now so I guess I might as well give it a shot. So to the 'sort of' comment. Due to the nature of the franchise I am going to be a little sneaky and try and get some casual first aid (and possibly H&S if I have to) trainer work on the side - I've made some initial enquiries which look promising. Not well paid being a first aid trainer but maybe a bit more rewarding. Gives me some money until I can make the franchise pay and also if it doesn't work out at least I can say on my CV I've still been doing H&S related work and also keep my CMIOSH status ticking over for now. Sort of not burning my bridges, if it doesn't work out I might be back!! So goodbye. I leave with some sadness at leaving behind a career that I've worked hard at and also paid me well!! But also heaving a slight sigh of relief not to be seen as the enemy anymore and not to watch the profession fighting itself as well as the outside world. I may be back if it doesn't work out. I may pop in from time to time to be nosy and see what's going on. But as of the New Year this is it. Best of luck to you all :-)

Hi Clairel, I genuinely hope the franchise business takes off! It’s been a very hard year for a great deal of us, lets hope the New Year is a little bit more promising. From one CMIOSH consultant to another - all the best for the future and I hope you have a great Christmas and prosperous 2011!

Hi Clairel, I genuinely hope the franchise business takes off! It’s been a very hard year for a great deal of us, lets hope the New Year is a little bit more promising. From one CMIOSH consultant to another - all the best for the future and I hope you have a great Christmas and prosperous 2011!

Good luck, You'll always dip in and out of the HSE website...

Claire, I hope it is au revoir and not goodbye. Times are very difficult in this recession and jobs are scarce, even in the 'wealthy' south east - so good luck with your new venture(s). As an aside, I recall a topic some years ago about what would chartered status bring to the profession in terms of tangible benefits...mmmm, good question. Not sure it has done much at all? Ray

Hi Claire, I just wanted to wish you all the best for Christmas anbd new year and hope everything works out for you. Best Wishes Paul

Have you ever thought of going offshore ? Loads of work in this secotr, just a thought. Regards

Clairel, good luck with the new venture. I hope that it is sufficiently robust to thrive in the forthcoming bleak economic future. Are you likely to need any H&S advice in setting it up and running it? I know a good consultant... It's very sad to see a seasoned professional leaving the industry and hopefully not a precursor of things to come. I will miss your contributions here which were always worth reading, adding to the subject matter and often promting more useful debate whilst being thought provoking and sometimes contentious. We need more contributors like you.

Claire, All the best in your new ventures. Do pop in and let us all know how it going from time to time as you will still remain part of this on-line community and free to post in those forums to which you have access. I have taken the liberty of merging all the similar topics you posted to neaten up the boards a bit, although this means there is some early repetition. Regards Jon (Moderator 3)

ooooh, merging has made it read odd - apologies everyone. Won't get rid of me that easily though. I have not long completed another cycle of CPD and so will retain my membership of IOSH until I am sure of how everything works out - no point burning my bridges. So I shall have access to public and member forums for some time yet!! Thanks for all the kind words... although it would seem farrell couldn't manage to say goodbye nicely as his post was hidden. Happy Christmas and New Year all!!! :-) Until later......................................

I echo the sentiments above - you'll be missed. Good luck for the future. Rich

I'm reminded here of Raymond Chandler's 1953 detective novel.

..................sort of!

awwwww...thanks :-)

Clairel, can I just say that no malice was meant by my post but after I read it I realised that it didn't read quite as I meant it to, and I suppose that has been my point all along, sometimes we interupt things or maybe write things that don't come out right. I don't know you personally or you me, but I do wish you all the best in your new venture and hope everything works out for you. All the best for Christmas and the New Year. There I nearly cared!

I always said you can read what you want into these posts.

Clairel I know we haven't always agreed in the past, but I am truly sorry that you feel you need to leave this profession. I can only wish you every success in your new venture, and, as others have said, please do let us know how you are getting on. All the best Chris

Goodbye-ee, goodbye-ee, Wipe the tear, Claire m'dear, from your eye-ee, Tho' it's hard to part we know, You’ll be sure to give it a right good go, Don't cry-ee, dont sigh-ee, there's a silver lining in the sky-ee, Au revoir H&S, ‘Allo C.V. Nah-poo, toodle-oo, Goodbye-ee. with apologies to any First World War veterans reading this!! p48

lol :-)