Hi, New here. Basically, I'm out of work (worked in warehouse as general operative for 10 years) and am seriously thinking about a career in Health and Safety. I enquired about few H&S General Certificate courses, and am also looking for relevant experience to go with this. - I'm concerned that my age will go against me in this new career/doing the General Certificate possibility. Am I correct in assuming this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. William

I started my health and safety training when I was 30, in fact it was 20 years ago next week! In many ways have a few years' experience in your kind of job is a positive benefit as you can already apply your physical knowledge to the theory of the General Certificate and it makes it a bit easier to understand. The NEBOSH General Certificate Course in itself is a bonus, a pass is ideal of course, but even just taking the course shows that you have more learning in health and safety than most people and even if you decide not to go into health and safety at the end of the day, it is a good thing to have on your CV. Good luck.

Started when I was 42, been employed ever since. So age is not an issue.

Hi William Getting a job in the health and safety world can be difficult if you have no qualifications in that field. And even getting a H&S position with the relevant qualifications can also be difficult. The things that will go in your favor when applying for a H&S role are qualifications and experience. You will need both to gain a managerial role in H&S. But having said all this its not all doom and gloom you can still plan ahead, if you have no qualifications what-so ever you make consider the following route (there are various qualifications and routes you make consider apart from these) If you want to start with just a taster -IOSH managing safely- you may then want to progress to a NEBOSH qualification. (certificate then diploma) If you are not already in an H&S role the NVQ route would not be possible. To gain experience I recommend looking around for a voluntary H&S position. Even though this would be an unpaid role it would give you some experience that you could include on your CV. This could take the form of shadowing an experienced H&S manager etc. I suggest you attend some IOSH branch/district meetings to see if anyone would be willing to help you out. (you can find your nearest IOSH branch on this website) In the past the company I work for as done this sort of thing to help people gain some experience. Worth thinking about. Good luck William, if its something you are passionate about don't give up.

Forgot to mention the fact William that I was 55 when I started my H&S career now I'm the H&S manager for a national company and I love my job.

Hi William, I was 35 when I started after 18 years in the printing industry. I sat a NEBOSH general cert in my own time and paid for it. After that I continued to study for 9 years (I am 44 now). I gained a NEBOSH construction cert, fire and environmental. I than did a NEBOSH Diploma and PTLLS qualification. I also now have a MSc in OHS. It has ben hard work but I am now a senior manager and have chartered status with IOSH. As an IOSH and NEBOSH approved tutor, I wouldn't recommend doing an IOSH course if you want a job in the sector. This course is an introductory course and will have no value in the open market. Go straight to a NEBOSH cert and get some experience through charity work. Age is NOT a factor and I also left school with ONE O-Level in Art. Good luck mate. Lee