Instead of going for full time H&S positions, you could look for positions for which your experience is relevant and which have H&S as an element within the work.  That would give you a chance to build up some experience.

Welcome to the exciting world of Health and Safety!

I'd consider utilising what experience you already have and framing it in terms of health and safety, for example; you said you were a car mechanic out of school for ten years, whilst you weren't a H&S professional back then you still have to adhere to health and safety, Health and safety is releveant to all workers, in all roles, in all companies, in all industries; you had to assess risk, you had exposure to LOLER (lifting ramp), you had experience with COSHH (oil, grease, fuel storage), you understand hot works (welding), you know when your tools have worn out and need replacing (PUWER), Whilst you weren't thinking in terms of health and safety you have always been involved in keeping yourself and others safe, look back over your career with your newly acquired NEBOSH knowledge and I'm sure you'll find hundreds of relevant examples and experience you can use to evidence your understanding and competency.

You'll always be gaining new insight and knowledge, new infomtion, new sites, changing legislation etc. it never stops, and neither will your growth and exerience with it.

Good luck.

"Trading Standards Approved - Buy With Confidence"

Would explain why there are no available Trading Standards staff if they are busy vetting suppliers

Originally Posted by: Thomas1183

I do wonder whether it would be worth studying another course, the environmental management side of things interests me as well as fire safety.

Absolutely it is worth doing another course, NEBOSH is just the beginning, the entry level qualification to give you a broad and general understanding of H&S, if you're interested in Fire get a FPA fire risk assessor course (or similar) under your belt, if water management is something you'll deal with; do the L8 legionnella management course, if you work in older buildings; get the P405 Asbestos Management course, there are courses for all different aspects of health and safety to hone your skills and understanding and to give you a better level of competency, you'll always be continously improving and should be doing at least one course every year, and keeping track of your continuous professional development (CPD). If you go for high level qualifications; diploma or degree level, you'll need to evidence all the other skills and knowledge you've acquired through your CPD.