Well after five years of trying to get my foot in the door,think its time to give up. Have a passion for H & S, due to being hurt myself in the past, now find myself out of work,and wondering if the money and time spent trying to get a H & S Career was worth it, IOSH fees due, and there is just no opertunities there, doom and gloom i know, but when you have a family, work long hours,and spend your own cash to "better" yourself, only to find,well its pointless, thanks to folk who have helped in past and continued success to all who have managed to get on the ladder Cheers Dougie

Dougie I would not give up totally but maybe just put it on hold while you find employment. I spent 7 years trying to move into health and safety but it was while being in different employment and I also had to self finance my qualifications. In the end I got there but it was a big step as I was in my late 40’s and this was a complete career change for me. That was only last year, I hope this helps as I know it wasn’t easy for me either.

Lawlee, its the total lack of opertunity, i got a phone call today from a agency , a couple of days in Scotland, a couple in England, your car, for less than i could get labouring on a site. All exams at own cost and did while doing 12 hour shifts, studing at night or on rare times home, have done OU the same way, and despite 30 years on sites,UK,and Abroad, Even my own work who i have been with 20 years overlook, because, its so easy to get a kid with a diplomer, there words not mine. Experience seems to count for nothing, and employers are looking for cheepest option, even when you offer to take pay cut. just very disillusioned, i have three friends who have been give health and safety duties at work, none have a qualification, just willing to take on duties, for fear of losing there job. there are folk who are far better qualified than me who cant get work,its rethink time for me Thanks

We are doomed :-( Blimey Bob i know its bad out there but your post made me feel positively suicidal. Is it beer o'clock yet?

Oh lord, not good. well only you can make the decision, it will be hard, would you consider setting up your own freelance safety, for your area, covering schools/ factories/ etc etc???

Dougie In 1999 I was in my 9th year in a H&S post that was heavily overloaded. I had obtained the NEBOSH Certificate and was plodding my way towards the original 5 Module Diploma. The senior management team decided in its infinite wisdom to create and recruit to a new post at the next grade up from me, but deliberately closed the recruitment process to me by requiring posession of the NEBOSH Diploma (I was 80% of the way there). My toys promptly left the pram, I sought an alternative position and vowed to never go back to the management side again, especially after 75% my job load was split between this new recruit and the guy above him. So Gamekeeper turned Poacher and I offered my services to my Union as a Safety Rep and kept my H&S knowledge and skills refined over the years. Then 2 years ago (just about 10 years to the last day in my previous H&S post ) an internal move was advertised seeking a person willing to sit the NEBOSH Certificate to manage H&S within one of our Directorates. My previous background put me in the frame immediately and the senior management team immediately agreed to send me on the current NEBOSH Diploma. MORAL: never say never and keep your CPD hand in, you never know when it may pay you back. Martyn