PS - I do also have a IFE approved Fire Safety Trainer cert and Legionella Awareness and Management cert.

As stated, one is an evidence based portfolio, produced from your workplace to demonstrate your understanding of the required learning outcomes, often challenged by your assessor.  The other, the NEBOSH is a qualification requiring the individual to study and recite under exam conditions, appropriate answers to a number of questions, which are derived from key words e.g. Describe, Outline, List etc.

In looking at development, additional courses that add value to your organisation are key, this is clearly what you are doing.  If you wish to develop in H&S then it is for you to determine the most appropriate route.  What are your objectives, do you wish to look outside of retail, where the requriements for qualifications etc. would be so much different.  An NVQ L3 is ideal for a low risk environment, where the range of risk is somewhat limited; with the NEBOSH accepted as the 'standard' qualification level (both are the same within the Qualificaiton Framework).

Your next step is to join IOSH and progress through them, seeking guidance from peers etc. to determine what suits you and your longer term aspirations within the H&S field.

Good luck.

Waz

You might want to look at the NCRQ system, I haven't done it - did NEBOSH route. However NCRQ is getting good reports for being a blend of theory and applied.

The most important aspect of the job (in my opinion) is knowing or recognising what you don't know and when to get help.

Many thanks for all your input; I think I definitely need to look at joining IOSH and seeking guidance along with maybe doing the NCRQ. Thanks again.

Hello, The NVQ 3 and NEBOSH are same level qualifications. I really reccommend doing your NCRQ which is a level 6 qualification. I haven't done it myself but my Health and Safety Manager has, and, looking at the text books it is so much better than NVQ/NEBOSH. Good luck!

I currently have the NEBOSH gen cert, but don't think the NEBOSH route is for me anymore. I'm not a great lover of exams being a more practicle hands on person. Plus after my minor stroke 3 years ago my memory isn't what it used to be Info does sink in but it takes time to go in and more importantly it takes a bit longer for the info to be recalled, which isn't great when sat at a desk writing your exam answers.

So it'll be NCRQ for me, which I'm just starting the claim process to fund some of it. About the only perk of being ex forces currently

Thanks again all for your advice; the more I think about it, the more I'm beginning to believe that the NCRQ route is the one for me.

Back in 2010 when i was a new starter in H&S i took the Nebosh General Certificate (Level 3) and found it really tough adjusting to the 'Nebosh way'. by that i mean the criteria for answering questions in a set way... 'Describe' 'List' 'explain' etc... 

As a result i spent many hours revising / reciting parrot fashion what i thought the answers might be. this to me detracted from the actual understanding of the subject matter. fortunately i passed and this led to a role in H&S.

A few years later i was looking to progress to Graduate status which meant more study at Diploma level and to be honest i was aprehensive about jumping back into the same study method of remembering facts to pass a test under strict exam conditions.

Then a friend introduced me to the NCRQ route to Diploma level and after a bit of research i established that for me at least, it was a method  that suited my learning style. I.E. no stressful classroom exams, but evidence based assignments done in a time to suit me and the ability to only ask for the assignments when you feel you are ready and not on a set date.

Both systems have thier merits and it is 'Horses for courses' which one to decide upon.

I have to say that the NCRQ route encouraged me to think more about applying the learning in day to day scenarios than the Nebosh route, which taught me to pass an exam. its a bit bit like driving, an instructor will teach you to pass a test, you then go on to gain experience on learning to actually drive.

As has been quoted already, we never stop learning in the field of H&S as there is always new technology or new legislation to learn. 

Edited by user 12 September 2019 09:45:26(UTC)  | Reason: Added paragraph

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but the British Safety Council level 6 is quite interesting. They haven't exported that well and it's been abused in the middle east, but perhaps they have more stringent practices in the UK. 

While it follows a similar path to Nebosh (exams+ practical) you'll only sit 2 exams and submit 2 assignments. 

I also really liked the emphasis on Health and on Culture. It feels less like rote learning and more practical, usable than the nebosh dip (i felt the nebosh dip was just an extension of the GC).

Good luck in your choice.

Correction: I thought I was reading the another thread, similar topic but about level 6. BSC also have a level 3 certificate and apparently IOSH have released one level 3 (that I haven't seen anyone talking about).

Edited by user 12 September 2019 11:42:19(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Your chosen industry should be taken into account as well, in mine (Railway) you are frequently put on the spot and have to give advice in “exam”  like situations.

IE Out on track you get asked is this Safe System Of Work ok or does this task/method of work comprise it, requiring works to be suspended?. (You now have the undivided attention of 30/40 people hoping for an early end to their shift & 2/3 supervisors and site/project managers wanting to get the job done)

Another example might be having to present your company’s H&S policies at an Invitation To Tender meeting followed by a Q&A session, both of which are quite high pressure for which I personally found “Exam” based testing an invaluable learning curve, as it taught me to get out relevant advice quickly and accurately.

In other industries  you may have more time to respond, in which case NCRQ type learning could be more appropriate.

As “Ovo” pointed out it really is very much a case of  “Horses For Courses” and you definitely never stop learning in this profession.

Good luck in whichever you choose.

Edited by user 18 September 2019 10:09:25(UTC)  | Reason: spelling

I did my NEBOSH cert in 2016/2017 and then my level 5 NVQ in 2018.  As I do H&S everyday i had loads of evidence and the NVQ only took weeks not months to.  I find the NEBOSH system too old fashioned and needs updating.  Whilst its fantastic for learning, it becomes more about recalling facts and being able to work answers using keywords they're looking for, NVQ is proof that I know what I'm doing and is equal to diploma level.

I'm now about to start my CMIOSH