Health and Safety Consultant

We're looking for an experienced health and safety consultant to set up a proportionate health and safety management system and act as our competent person, on a freelance or part-time basis.

About the role

iO-Sphere is a data and AI training provider. Most of our training is delivered online. Our team works from a shared office in London (E1) and from home, and learners attend the office for a small number of in-person days each year.

You'll put the right health and safety arrangements in place for an organisation of our size and risk profile, act as our named competent person under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and provide ongoing advice and oversight.

The role starts with an initial piece of work of around seven days over the first two months, followed by around one day a month.

Key responsibilities

Initial set-up:

• Carry out a gap analysis of our current arrangements against our legal obligations.
• Following the gap analysis, bring our arrangements up to the standard expected of an organisation of our size, covering display screen equipment (DSE) and homeworking assessments for all staff, accident, incident and near-miss reporting, general risk assessments for the office, homeworking and learner attendance days, and a health and safety induction for new starters.
• Complete, or commission from a qualified assessor and review, a fire risk assessment for our premises, consistent with the building's own fire risk assessment and evacuation procedure.
• Review our health and safety policy and procedures, and the questionnaire we use to assess the health and safety arrangements of our apprentices' employers.

Ongoing:

• Act as our named competent person, carrying the responsibilities our health and safety policy assigns to that role.
• Review the accident, near-miss and first aid log each month and agree any remedial actions.
• Review and sign off health and safety questionnaires from apprentice employers.
• Spot-check homeworking assessments, check that fire drills are carried out and recorded, and monitor staff health and safety training.
• Lead the annual policy review, confirm that portable appliance testing is up to date, refresh risk assessments and prepare an annual health and safety report for our board.
• Advise when incidents occur, including RIDDOR reporting decisions, incident investigations and risk assessments for one-off events.
• Provide a monthly summary of the days used and the work completed.

What we're looking for

Essential:

• The NEBOSH National General Certificate, or an equivalent or higher health and safety qualification.
• Experience setting up and managing health and safety for offices or small businesses as an adviser or consultant.
• Experience acting as a competent person, with working knowledge of DSE, fire safety, first aid, accident reporting and RIDDOR.
• Confidence using AI tools in your work, for example to draft and check documents, and the judgement to review what they produce.
• The ability to explain requirements clearly to non-specialists, and to respond promptly when an issue arises.

Desirable:

• Chartered membership of IOSH (CMIOSH) or OSHCR registration.
• Experience in education or training, including assessing employers' health and safety arrangements for apprentices or work placements.
• A fire risk assessment qualification.

How the role works

You can work with us as a self-employed consultant or through your own company on a day rate, invoiced monthly for the days used, or as a part-time employee on PAYE with a pro-rata salary on the same basis. The days expected are the same either way.

Days beyond the initial seven and the monthly day are agreed in writing in advance. Where an incident needs immediate advice, you act first and we confirm the time in writing afterwards, at the same rate.

The work is mostly remote, with site visits to our London office as required. Your day-to-day contact is our Operations Executive.

About iO-Sphere

We train people in data and AI through practical, hands-on programmes, including apprenticeships, bootcamps and training for employers. Over 1,000 people have trained with us, and organisations including PwC, BAE Systems, Dunelm, Motorway and CBRE send their teams to us. We're one of the UK's fastest-growing data and AI training companies.

What the role must achieve

1. 1Within the first two months, our health and safety arrangements meet the standard expected of an organisation of our size, with assessments, reporting and induction in place.
2. 2iO-Sphere has a named competent person, and every duty in its health and safety policy is covered.
3. 3Accident records and apprentice employer questionnaires are reviewed and signed off each month.
4. 4Health and safety records are ready for inspection at any time, and the board receives an annual report.
5. 5Ongoing work stays at around one day a month, with a monthly summary of the days used.

What you'll need

We shortlist against these, scored the same way for everyone:

• NEBOSH National General Certificate or a higher health and safety qualification
• Setting up or running health and safety for offices or small businesses as an adviser or consultant, including risk assessments, DSE and accident reporting
• Acting as a named competent person, or advising a business on its legal duties, including fire safety and RIDDOR
• Using AI tools in day-to-day work, such as drafting documents, checking them or keeping records
• The right to work in the UK
• Able to visit our London E1 office for site work

Good to have, but not needed:

• Chartered membership of IOSH (CMIOSH) or OSHCR registration
• Health and safety experience in education or training
• Assessing employers' health and safety arrangements for apprentices or work placements
• A fire risk assessment qualification