Rank: Forum user 
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I've also posted this topic in the general forum.
Well, its happened.......................I've been made redundant!!!!. Given the unemployment figures, there appears to be loads of us chasing a shortage of jobs, and at 55, all you read about is how difficult it is for us 'oldies' to get that next role, I'm wondering whether to go self-employed, offering a H&S consultancy service to those companies who don't want to directly employ someone to do the job for them. Any advice you guys can offer would be gratefully appreciated.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Sorry to be negative. Trawl through the many postings on this careers forum to get a feel for the market for new self-employed entrants. Much low-price competition, little work.
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Rank: New forum user
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Hi, it is tough, i have been self emplyed for 11 years and the last 12months have been really difficult. You have nothing to lose since have been redundant as was i 11 years ago. Try sending your CV to as many companies that would require your service as fill in or long/ short contracts. Best of luck
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Rank: Forum user
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dont look at your age as a disadvantage - it will be a postive for your experience. it is tough - i got the same news first day back after the new year....total shock and surprise. many large consultancies take on associates - to do their work for them, without the expese of paying employee expenses - make appointments to go and see them as letters are so annonymous. face to face will be so much better especially from a customer facing point of view. most are very good and see you. it is tough there is no doubt about it, but get out there and fight!!! I did and it is paying off!!! Good luck
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks for your input guys, much appreciated, i'll keep you posted on how i get on.
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Rank: Super forum user
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cdt,
I've been self-employed for four years now and the last two years I've usually worked just 2 days a week, and what's kept me going is having one customer who has me in every week. All other customers are once or twice a month sometimes 2 half days, and some lose interest or decide they've learned enough from me to carry on themselves.
You'll need a website. 90% of my work has come via my website.
And you'll need to widen your knowledge/experience, particularly in construction and providing advice to contractors, CDM compliance.
JohnW
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks for the advice JohnW.
Fortunatley, I'm from a construction background and thats the market i'll be predominatley aiming at.
My knowledge and experience includes CDM, PUWER, LOLER, manual handling, working at height, confined space, etc etc, and whilst some of these skills are transferable, i will need to widen my skillset for other industry sectors.
I've also got environmental management skills and some experience regarding QA and auditing.
I agree with the need for a website and i'm on to this already.
I think the hardest bit will be the door knocking touting for work.
If i can get work for 2 days a week at say £250 a day to start with, i'll be happy........ish, but i'll certainly be looking to build on this.
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Rank: Super forum user
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ctd167,
I did some door knocking (well, letter writing) early on before website got on to Google page 1, now I never write letters.
4 years ago I had to learn all the construction, CDM, LOLER, PUWER, WAH etc and it's what I do most of the time now. Before that when I had a real job it was auto engineering and COSHH which I rarely deal with now, but like yourself I also had QA and auditing experience and that certainly comes in useful for document control and preparing checklists and method statements etc which many of my smaller customers seem unable to cope with on their own.
Back to the website, I don't pay Google anything but anyone searching for safety consultant in my city or county will see me on page 1. Not in the top 8 with the map (you usually have to pay), but often I'm the next line down, and this attracts my smaller customers because they assume the 'map' companies are too expensive. It works!
JohnW
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Rank: Forum user
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You're right John, if you're not on page 1 of google, you're nowhere.
Nobody ever looks any further.
If you're getting enough work from you're website, then well done, but to start with i think i need to be more pro-active, as you say, telephone call, emails etc.
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Rank: New forum user
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Hi ctd 167 in the same boat as you have been thinking about going self employed looking at specializing in the care side of things!
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Rank: Forum user
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Good luck Scouse, as you can see, there's quite a few IOSH members willing to help and offer advice.
Actually, I've got a job interview tomorrow, and I'm away on holiday for the next 2 weeks but if nothings happened by the time I come back, I'm taking the plunge I think.
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