Your Competent Health & Safety Advisor

Safety Assistance Limited acts as a practical extension of your team — qualified, responsive, and available to businesses across the UK.

What is a competent health and safety advisor — and why does your business need one?

Most businesses need access to qualified health and safety advice, but very few need a full-time in-house specialist. A competent advisor fills that gap — giving you expert support when you need it, without the cost of a permanent hire.

In practice, this means having someone with the right knowledge, skills and experience to give you sound advice — whether that is reviewing your risk assessments, helping you respond to an incident, or simply answering a question before you start a new type of work.

Safety Assistance Limited can act as that competent person for your business. We provide clear, jargon-free advice by phone and email, keep you informed of relevant changes, and are there when you need us — without the overhead of a full-time employee.

What is included in the service

Named competent advisor assigned to your business
Access to qualified IOSH member advisors
Certificate of appointment issued as standard
Jargon-free advice by phone and email
Regular email updates on relevant regulatory changes
Out-of-hours emergency contact number for all clients
Nationwide coverage across the UK
Monthly direct-debit payment option available

Consultancy and technology — support across the full journey

Safety Assistance combines qualified consultancy with practical software, so you get both expert advice and the tools to manage safety day to day. Our Safety Mate platform helps businesses manage risk assessments, incidents, audits, COSHH records and more in one place, while Fast RAMS lets contractors and site teams produce compliant RAMS quickly from any device.

This means we can support you from identifying what needs to be done, through to putting the right systems in place and keeping on top of them over time. Find out more about Safety Mate and Fast RAMS on our technology pages.

Why choose Safety Assistance Limited?

Safety Assistance Limited was founded by Stephen Shields, a Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH) who also holds the NEBOSH Diploma, NEBOSH Fire qualification, and Lead Auditor status for ISO 45001 and ISO 9001. Our team are members of IOSH and hold relevant safety qualifications and experience in the fields they are assigned to.

We hold Cyber Essentials accreditation and carry Professional Indemnity insurance of £5 million and Public Liability insurance of £10 million. We have supported over 100 clients across the UK, and our coverage is nationwide.

Pricing is transparent and based on your organisation's requirements, agreed after a free discovery call. There are no hidden fees and no unnecessary complexity — just practical support that fits your business.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a competent health and safety advisor?

UK law expects employers to have access to competent health and safety assistance. Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 places a duty on employers to appoint one or more competent persons to help them meet their health and safety responsibilities. If you do not currently have someone in that role — whether in-house or external — appointing a competent advisor is an important step in meeting your obligations.

What qualifications do your advisors hold?

Our founder, Stephen Shields, is a Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH) and holds the NEBOSH Diploma, NEBOSH Fire qualification, and Lead Auditor status for ISO 45001 and ISO 9001. Our wider team are members of IOSH and hold relevant safety qualifications and experience in the fields they are assigned to. Certifications can be provided for verification on request.

Can I get accreditation support as well?

Yes. Appointing a competent person is a requirement within the core criteria of many accreditation schemes, including CHAS, SMAS Worksafe, SafeContractor, Constructionline, SSIP, RISQS and ISO 45001. We can support you with accreditation applications alongside your competent advisor service. Visit our accreditations page to find out more.

How does pricing work?

Pricing is transparent and based on your organisation's specific requirements. We agree this after a free discovery call, so you only pay for what you actually need. Monthly direct-debit payment is available on all packages, which helps spread the cost and supports your cashflow.

What happens if I need support outside office hours?

All competent advisor clients receive an out-of-hours emergency contact number. This is provided to you on appointment and is available across all packages. Our standard office hours are Monday to Friday 08:00 to 17:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 16:00, with extended support available where required.

Will you visit our premises if there is an accident or an HSE intervention?

Site visits following an incident or regulatory intervention are available and charged separately at an agreed call-out basis. We will discuss this with you at the outset so there are no surprises if you ever need on-site support.

Industries we support

Construction

Practical health and safety support for contractors, principal contractors and construction businesses of all sizes.

Mechanical & Electrical

Competent advisor services for M&E contractors working across commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects.

Logistics

Health and safety support for transport, warehousing and distribution operations.

Agriculture

Practical advice for agricultural businesses managing a wide range of workplace hazards.

Arboriculture

Competent health and safety support for arboricultural contractors and tree surgery businesses.

Hospitality & Events

Health and safety guidance for hospitality venues, event organisers and catering operations.

Ready to appoint your competent advisor?

Practical support, a qualified team, and nationwide coverage — with transparent pricing agreed after a free discovery call.

Get in touch

Call us on 0333 335 5187, email info@safetyassistance.co.uk, or use the contact form to send an enquiry. Our office hours are Monday to Friday 08:00 to 17:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 16:00. We are closed on Sundays. An out-of-hours emergency contact number is provided to all active clients. We are based in Liverpool and cover businesses nationwide.