Posted By Sheila EJ Keogh Des, suggest you get some h&s qualifications and experience under your belt, perhaps starting off with the NEBOSH Certificate, or if you are brave go straight into the NEBOSH Diploma. The Diploma will give you a huge wealth of knowledge that you can then build upon with experience. Also, suggest you do some form of Risk Management course. Not sure if you have any H&S experience at the moment, but to gain the confidence of prospective clients you will need to be confident in your own competence. Education and experience is the key! If you do choose to go it alone, don't forget to purchase your professional indemnity insurance. However, I would suggest you work in a h&s role for other organisations first to gain solid experience. All the best, whatever you choose.

Posted By Ian Clarke Hi Alice - in theory anyone could start up a consultancy, however without the right qualifications and experience you’re never going to get Professional Indemnity Insurance, which clients do ask for. If one decides to work without this Insurance and manage to coarse a client into giving the work, then that person is sooner or later going to get caught when something happens and will be prosecuted. Consultants aren't regulated as such, other than not being given Insurance if they just aren't competent. Hi Des - depending on what H&S qual/exp you have, going it alone without having the contacts will be tough, however there are numerous consultancies that will employ you and you can still work from home.

Posted By Rochelle Cartmell Just one thing to remember if considering the NEBOSH Diploma - you may well have to do the NEBOSH General Certificate first if doing the new Diploma.