British Safety Council launches initiative to support unemployed veterans

The British Safety Council has launched a new scheme to help unemployed veterans in the UK move into jobs in health, safety and wellbeing. 

The initiative, From Service to Safety, is open to service leavers and veterans who are unemployed or about to lose their jobs.

The scheme will offer free training for the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, a recognised qualification for managers, supervisors and safety professionals. 

Training will be delivered by British Safety Council trainers and include wider career and pastoral support, while NEBOSH is covering the exam fees for candidates.

People without resettlement funding will be referred through the Career Transition Partnership, which provides resettlement support for the Armed Forces. 

Training starts in April, with 100 places available this year.

Mike Robinson, CEO of British Safety Council, said: “We are thrilled and proud to be launching this new initiative, From Service to Safety, to help people who have already worked to keep our country safe, to enter a career helping people in work stay safe, healthy and well.

“British Safety Council’s commitment to service is rooted in our heritage. 

“Our founder, James Tye, was inspired by his time spent serving for his country in the Second World War to dedicate his life to campaigning for safer and healthier workplaces.”

Robinson added: “We know that Service leavers and veterans already often possess skills in risk awareness, hazard identification, and mitigation, all of which be applied in occupational health and safety roles.  

“As a sector with an ageing demographic, we want to attract people from a wide range of ages and backgrounds to the profession.”

Andy Shenstone, CEO of NEBOSH, said: “NEBOSH are so pleased to support the British Safety Council’s From Service to Safety initiative through our Social Purpose programme. 

“It’s an honour to support the ongoing personal development of military veterans, and particularly to those wanting to pursue health, safety, wellbeing and environment as a career.”