Hi,

I have been involved with a number of small OHS training agencies over the years here in Canada,and will offer a few thoughts. Obviously, the first thing to consider is if there is a large enough market for your services, and associated with that, what services you can offer (e.g. specific subject matter). Then, maybe think about the mode of delivery and range of product (on-site client tailored curriculum, fixed curriculum courses, on-line vs. face to face, etc.). Here in Canada, there are very few nationally recognized and/or mandated OHS courses, and while the various regulatory frameworks to specify some training standards, those tend to get very price competitive (example here -first-aid training), to a point where they are barely break even for most of the service providers. You are likely familiar with the reality that curriculum development time is the largest part of training, and fees have to reflect that. I have found many employers (or individual safety people seeking training) are not prepared to pay for the time it takes to develop or deliver quality competency-based training. Of course I have no familiarity with the situation in the U.K.; it may well be much better.

Hope this is of some use.

To helpp you stand out, and for what is slowly becoming a "need to have" rather than a "nice to have" get on a PTLLS course (preparing to teach in the life long learning sector). It is NVQ Level 3 and whilst is in my opinion a load of s***e more and more companies are looking for that in a tutor.

I did it 2 years ago and whilst I thought the course was more geared to those who routinely see the same students (rather than us dip in & out consultants) there were parts that did add to my delivery & prep. processes.

If you look at full time H&S training or adviser roles, more & more are looking at this NVQ as a necessity & more & more training organisations are sending their tutors on it (I did mine whislt working for the now defunct Connaught, currently Santia Training).