Hello,

I am seeking feedback from health and safety professionals who have progressed to GradIOSH membership whilst in employment.

I am in a stand-alone role with no connections to other health and safety professionals. I am quite isolated and so I truly value all opinions and feedback.

I have a NEBOSH certificate and I have decided to study the postgraduate diploma in occupational health, safety and environmental management. I have applied, I have been accepted and my course starts in October this year. I did inform my line manager in advance and his reaction was positive. I did not ask for financial assistance because the organisation I work for is in debt. Also, as I am still under probation( which ends this August), I didn’t feel as though it was appropriate. I asked for one day release for 26 weeks of the year with full pay (the course is for two years part-time as I am taking the University route). To cut a long story short , my line manager’s manage said no. Now I have requested that I use my annual leave to attend the course. It has been suggested that the request be taken to the Chief Executive and Principal for consideration.

As a result of it all, I am feeling demotivated. I am doing the work, but the enjoyment has been somewhat affected. If I go down the road of using the annual leave to attend the course, I don’t think that I can realistically sustain that. I imagine that after a while I will burn out, especially with having a 15 month old child to care for. I also imagine that at some point, this will also affect my productivity at work as I’d have no time to recharge my batteries.

I feel that if my employer is not able or willing to support my career development plan, then it will be best for me to move on. I would like to achieve GradIOSH status and doing the diploma at university is the option that suites me.

What I'm asking for is your feedback on whether my request is reasonable. In your experiences or from what you've heard others say, how are safety professionals often supported by their employer to progress to a higher level of qualification?

Thanks for your input Peter. I am not put off from doing the course. I am more determined and I’m convinced that it is the right thing to do. When I look at H&S job adverts out there, a great majority ask for Diploma level qualification so it makes sense to keep up with industry demands, plus I know I will enjoy the course.

I have considered the NVQ Diploma, but I understand that transferability to other sectors can be an issue and I would quite like the option of working in other sectors. That’s why I have opted for the University route.

If I am forced to, I will use my annual leave to attend the course and start looking for an alternative job promptly. Unless the general response is that employers would not normally provide the support that I am looking for.

I have paid for all of my qualifications, both four the courses and in the use of my holidays (last year I had 3 days over Christmas- the rest was courses), the roles I was in didn't need what I wanted to do, so I paid for it. My new role, a few weeks into my probation, had a paid week away for my diploma, my manager is just finishing his diploma that the company paid for, so perhaps it is in their interest to help me along- I have "Trainee" in my job title too. Paying for your own courses is a difficult one if it is not a stipulation of your role- but sometimes its that gap that pushes us on to bigger and better things. I'm hoping now my new role will help me to broaden my horizons, and I really feel this is something I could stay doing for a long while yet.

Either way, don't let it get you down, perhaps make a case as to what your qualification can bring to the table, perhaps see about 50/50 leave, half holiday and half paid for by the company?

Forgot to put one other thing in my post.

Because they were paying and I knew how much, the pressure on me not to fail added to the normal Diploma stress. I simply felt I could not fail, It was not an option, so yes I was revising on Christmas day !

Chris

I guess Im one of the fortunate one and I've been funded from cert to Msc.

Just reading your post and fair play to you.

Without getting drawn into the vocational academic debate - have you considered the vocational route?

because reading you post with work and home life - it may be a good option. Nothing to stop you going for Post Grad Qualifications later on when you circumstances change.

Just a thought.

I'd like to thank everyone who replied to my post. Based on your responses, I gathered that support from employers vary. As I was determined to do the diploma with the right amount of time off which wouldn't increase my stress level to breaking point, I decided to seek other employment opportunities.

I have fortunately secure employment as a Health and Safety Manger elsewhere, with some study leave included in the contract for the duration of the course, amongst other good benefits.

I'm very happy about this and it has been a positive lesson for me to apply in future. Lesson being; know your worth and keep striving for what you know you know is reasonable.

My situation original situation appears to be more common than I thought, so good luck to everyone who is struggling to get support from their current employer.