Hi, I am working in a City Council as an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) in a public health area. I served 23 years in the Army and started my second career after leaving at 40 completing a NEBOSH Cert, EH degree and professional registration to the CIEH. My Council does little relating to H & S since the Govt de-regulated it but I want to try to progress (which might get worse than better in the future?. I have a £2000 Army grant towards a course (above level 3) to use which expires in 2019. I am wanting to try? to 'future proof' my career by looking in the right areas. I could do a MSc in EH, a course in Public Health OR consider some further education in H & S (especially if I decide to move from the Council into a position in the private sector. I have many skills in EH, as a practitioner and an unsure of what further education to do and my experience of H & S since I have little actual H & S working knowledge since my NEBOSH. I did complete a 30,000 word portfolio (based on prescribed topics/situations) as part of my professional portfolio and am aware that a NVQ Level 5 might be my way forwards?? I am stuck a little as I have transferrable experience from EH but not H & S and will be more educated. Is there anywhere to go after potentially passing this H & S course? Appreciate any support in any way. Happy to hear from any professional happy to type a few words of wisdom, based on experience, training etc... Many thanks, in advance. Yours, Chris MCIEH GradIOSH

Thanks for the reply. I have joined my local branch as am now a committee member. I do believe I DO do H & S in many ways although I wonder some times as I do it from a 'softer' angle. I wonder what direction to take to educate myself further in this regard. Nice to know I have plenty of value as I sometimes doubt myself again those working with hi viz and hard hats! Thanks, Chris

I noticed you say you tackle H&S from a softer angle, but seem to have doubts with this approach. I say - yes! Come in! The H&S profession needs people who can communicate, empathise, engage, influence, persuade etc etc. It is all about understanding your purpose - 'here to help' rather than 'here to do, it's all mine'. Not sure what you meant by de-regulated, but that's a detail. If you can afford it, I recommend a private provider of NEBOSH Diploma courses, many say the degrees are good, but it's hard to know without doing all the courses!!!!! I have worked with SPs who have been trained in such ways, also NVQ portfolio, and would go for the private block course trained every time. The outcome is the same (CMIOSH) but the grounding is more pragmatic. This is one person's personal viewpoint. Some people like the block course method, others the steady flow of a day release. You should be able to transition quite easily. Maybe there is a H&S service you can shadow either in your council or another, to get a feel for the job. In many smaller councils the EH service do both external H&S enforcement and internal H&S not a great plan but whatever.

Just adding another two penny worth. I didn't do NEBOSH - lower than what I have, doesn't suit my learning style and frankly I don't need it. A quick call to IOSH will probably find that your EH degree is acceptable as a cognate degree. As for construction, go there if you want but be aware that you will be competing with so many that have years of experience - in 16 years, I've worked in social care, consultancy and facilities management and have learned a great deal in each.

go down the environmental route as environmental areas are 'in' whereas H&S areas are not best of luck