The City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council                                   1984 – 1999            

Environmental Health Officer/Senior Environmental Health Officer

·       Experience of working as an enforcement officer within food safety, health and safety, public health and environmental control and pollution sections

·       Managed a team of enforcement officers

·       Organised food safety and health and safety inspection schedules

·       Advised the Department on pending legislation and liaised with the Council’s solicitor in connection with prosecution cases

·       Lectured on the CIEH Advanced Food Hygiene course (now Level 4 Food Hygiene) and Intermediate HACCP Courses

As Group Health & Safety Manager (Retail & Logistics) Divisions I champion a culture of compliance, communicating effectively to enable the business to meet its regulatory responsibilities in an environment of cost constraint.  I have gained a reputation for delivering results through thinking strategically and the ability to influence and work collaboratively, building strong relationships across those organisations I have been employed, enforcement authorities and other external stakeholders.

Experience Highlights

Developing and Managing a Compliance Culture

·       Reporting directly to the Directors of all divisions, responsible for influencing the organisation’s commitment to regulatory compliance

·       Responsible for developing, implementing and integrating policies relating to health and safety for a national retailer with over 600 hundred retail sites, 18 manufacturing sites, 6 large distribution hubs and associated Vehicle Maintenance Units and a large head office building

·       Devised and implemented health and safety strategies for all divisions of the organisation, including risk assessments, safe working procedures and health and safety training packages for colleagues at all levels.

·       Balancing the needs of a cost conscious organisation with the need to be legally compliant by promoting a culture of compliance at all levels and across all disciplines

·       Developed and implemented audit protocols for the main store estate and the growing number of convenience stores using hand held technology

·       Being an integral part of the team that managed health and safety when the company increased the number of stores to 600 following the acquisition of another retailer

·       Contributing to legislative and effective management of environmental aspects and impacts of existing and proposed developments

Building Relationships and Partnerships

·       Committed to encouraging team working, collaborated with the Departmental Heads including Buying, Finance, Retail Projects, Store Operations, Distribution, Manufacturing and Head Office functions to create innovative solutions to ensure continued compliance

·       Effectively communicating with colleagues at all levels and external stakeholders including suppliers of both goods and services and contractors

o   Achieved store-wide employee engagement through developing and delivering a range of training courses for Store Managers with the aim of maintaining continued compliance in health and safety

o   Enhanced relationships with contractors through designing comprehensive set of contractor rules and permits to work and the introduction of a safe contractor scheme.

o   Accountable as the one of the lead representative of the Company in all regulatory matters relating to health and safety and statutory nuisance and being authorised to speak on behalf of the Company in instances of non-compliance and acting as liaison with the Primary Authority and the Company’s Solicitors

o   Achieved compliance with the Company’s health and safety targets by the effective management of a team of health and safety professionals based across the UK

Sustaining Technical Credibility

·       Built credibility with the Board, the senior management team and colleagues at all levels as a trusted resource for technical expertise; coaching, mentoring and advising in order to achieve the best solution

o   Led strategic projects to improve safety and reduce costs by working closely with external and internal stakeholders on the development and implementation of procedures to reduce slip accidents in stores which accounted for a reduction in liability claims in the region of £1,000,000 per annum

o   Worked with the HSE in providing data to assist in the development of technical guidance on working at height on trailers and the manual handling MAC tool

·       Represent the Company at industry forums sharing best practice, the impact of new legislation and enabling benchmarking of the organisation.

Providing professional health & safety expertise and advice.