Hi First of all good luck. This post may come across as negative but its intention is purely to give you an accurate assessment of the H&S job market in the UK. Firstly job prospects depend largely where you are going to live in the UK and what field you are going to work in. South East and London offers the best job opportunities and salaries (IMO) however rents and cost of living is high (prohibitively so if you are unemployed or just in a junior position starting out on a low salary). Secondly the UK H&S job market is already saturated with even highly qualified and experienced people struggling to find work in many areas and industries. Plenty of university graduates entering the jobs market every year. Numerous ex military personnel leaving the forces and entering the H&S field having done the Nebosh Certs and Diploma. The recent downturn in the oil industry has also brought back a lot of H&S people to the jobs market. As you can see if you are new to the profession and the Country you really are going to have an uphill struggle as you are entering a very competitive field. In my opinion and to improve your prospects of getting a job I would do the environmental qualification as more and more employers seem to be specifying this (or similair) on general H&S job vacancies. Once you get a foot in the door then you can decide on a more specialised route if that`s what you want. This is just my opinion and you will probably get lots more advice. Best of luck whatever you decide.

Paul & Ian are correct best of luck for your future

While there is work in safety engineering - even this sector is very depressed at the moment - due to the obvious reason of low oil prices. Little or no design/development projects underway - where many safety engineers work. Nuclear work comes in 'fits and starts'. At the moment I wouldn't recommend anybody wasting their time and money training to be a safety adviser/professional etc via NEBOSH or working in any safety role. As others have said - the job market is flooded with potential applicants at the moment, driving down salaries etc. As quoted 'NEBOSH and the training providers continue to churn them out to the job market'. If you can find something else to do..... then do it. If I could, I would get out of safety and return to a more general engineering role.... which I'm trying to do.

I'm not sure the best advice for you would be to throw in the towel and retrain in something else when you have just spent the past three years working for a bachelor degree in OHS. If you are looking at the aviation field then best to look at where the airports are. There are more than you think, from Gatwick/Heathrow to smaller places like Lydd (although I don't know about the opportunities for those smaller ones). It is true the market is depressed, but that's across many industries in the UK. I think that sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side. Sorry Bob but if you look in the job sections you will find that most personal trainers earn very little and only the chosen few get to enjoy the big paydays.

Had to smile at Paulw71 post. However - not all aviation work is near airports. BAE in Preston and Airbus at Broughton (Chester) to mention just two that I can think of quickly. But everything else said here is true to a degree. Employers tend to insist on H&S people having direct experience of their own particular industry: Manufacturing; Engineering; FM; Construction; Logistics; Financial sector (eh?); Education (we've all got experience of that surely?). This can be very limiting and difficult to 'break into'. Yet H&S is predominantly taught and managed along the lines of topics / hazards: Asbestos; COSHH; work at heights; electrical; RIDDOR; CDM; fire; wellbeing etc. And broad-brush PDCA, policy etc. Then there are the different styles & tactics, often related to particular role: Compliance - auditing, systems, legal standards etc. Training, coaching, mentoring, influencing. 'Hands-on' v 'strategic' etc. My advice would include trying larger H&S / Environmental consultancies who may take on graduates they can mold to their own style.

Just a bit of lighthearted humour pal. No offence meant.

Hi Nerise, firstly ignore all of the above.... You are already qualified - so that is another misnomer put to bed. Fine if you want to cross reference your existing knowledge but be assured it is the IOSH professional membership that opens doors and people get through that with many types of tickets. You are experienced in the aviation industry (I suspect mainly 'front of house' but I am sure there are administration aspects as well, so direct experience in customer relations and public f2f working - this is used in much wider circles than just aviation; for example public sector and especially in the hotel related industries. You also have some experience of inspections /audits. That is before I have met you...... You 'are' coming to the UK, and you do want work.... Important factors are where and what type of salary are you expecting (probably lower here but then so is cost of living). No need for details but if I was you I'd draft a matrix wish list and check it against vocational growth curve -you won't get everything you want straight away s how do you get there say in 2-3 years? Also consider the periphery - for example IOSH recruits people and it is a growing need to have international staff. Consultancies need people who are not bound by expectations or ideas, Australia House employs many people around the UK..... Good luck and stay positive - there are plenty of jobs here. I believe we are at the lowest unemployment for a decade or more. And if there is nothing obvious then you have to create a need for someone to create a role for you. You have the advantage of being used to larger horizons - use it!!

Nope -I disagree, still ignore them, they were all negative and not really offering constructive advice against the question asked imho. I think man of the comments stem from personal experience and not (with the greatest respect) addressing the question as it was asked. (mmm.... sound familiar?) Please allow me to clarify the question; 1. I am wondering what further study should I complete to be considered for a full-time OHS role in the UK? 2. What also qualifications/experience are UK employers looking for? We got; uphill struggle, job market is poor, niche roles, engineering (OP is cabin crew), throw in the towel.... etc But the OP can consider me an irresponsible fool - most do. This is a forum - just adding my 3d worth

Spot on! To the OP, come over you are more than welcome and you have most of what you need to join IOSH. but be aware of the reality, which Ian sums up.

Similar to David Cameron telling MPs not to listen to eurosceptic constituency associations. IOSH top brass acting similarly. Jon

personal? political? helpful? accurate? Do we still have the ASA? What exactly is IOSH 'Top Brass'. I cleaned the kitchen yesterday and brasso'd the tap - I call that top brass now, is it the same thing? I hereby declare that I am from this moment relegated to IOSH 'rusty bits'. There are far shinier people around. Maybe we can import some sunshine from Aus - I hear they have a lot of gold plated talent.

Jay, I wish I was as young and optimistic ;-) I know the job you have and you were ideal for it with your experience mix. Others have not been so lucky. Things are pretty dire with well experienced CMIOSH out of work, employers can pick & choose at the moment. Nuclear is up & down, maybe not where you are but nationally.

Nerise, I have just read through all the responses in your post and can see there is a real mixed bag which likely does not help you very much with your decision to jump over or not. Having just spent the last five years in WA working on a large resources project I got to know the Aussie mentality pretty well and have to say I generally found them to be a tough resilient lot who are not afraid of a good challenge. My humble advice to you would be to network as much as you can and take full advantage of forums such as this and start looking at situations vacant in the various publications including this one and utilising the various professional agencies that abound these days. I believe many of the respondents are correct in their assessment of the current job market and I am all too keenly aware of the declining O&G markets globally; however there is still a market for young keen professionals who can demonstrate a desire and willingness to provide a service and learn more. I would certainly take the plunge and try this cold and wet country out for a six month spell at least and as the old saying goes.....its not what you know; but who you know..... So get the old feelers out and start building up some relationships which might or might not help you secure a HSE role in aviation, nuclear, construction or whatever......Good luck in your endeavors...