Shield Safety, a leading UK provider of professional services and software solutions across food safety, health and safety and fire safety, is celebrating a highly successful initial year for its Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) Graduate Scheme.
Since launching the programme in 2022, and welcoming its first cohort of Graduate Environmental Health Practitioners, Shield Safety has marked numerous achievements to date as it strives to advance safety and drive the highest possible standards. Success recognised internally with its EHPs include: the provision of additional training and qualifications, significantly Pool Plant Operator training which offers substantial value to a number of clients, and the Train the Trainer course which has resulted in coveted certification as a Highfield Trainer.
In another key highlight, a trio of graduates at Shield Safety have successfully progressed through the complexity of several of the company’s different audit types.
The programme, which is open to recent BSc or MSc Environmental Health students, offers an invaluable opportunity for new graduates to gain experience in the field of Environmental Health, through a combination of on-site training (both shadow and independent work) and home/office-based learning. Graduates also receive support through the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) pathway to Registration.
Speaking of her experience on the programme Zeena Hernandez, Graduate Environmental Health Practitioner said: “I joined the Shield Safety EHP Graduate Scheme in the first intake in 2022 – the programme meant that I had support and training for my role as an auditor, as well as the time and resources to continue developing my career and gaining my professional registration with the CIEH. The audit team at Shield Safety have a depth and breadth of knowledge that you can’t get at university and are always happy to answer any questions. In the last year my skills, knowledge and confidence have grown immeasurably; my EHP skills and knowledge have leapt forward but my soft skills have too – communicating risks to clients, finding solutions and sometimes, persuading them to take a step up and improve their practices.
“It’s an exciting time to be a part of Shield Safety, the company is innovative and growing in new directions. My career prospects are growing too.”
In addition to having the largest team of EHPs in the country, Shield Safety has a high level of chartered EHPs within the company. In the audit team, nine EHPs have secured Chartered status and across the business there are an additional ten Chartered members in areas such as Safety Consultancy and Safety Advice Line, as well as at senior management levels.
Mark Flanagan, Founder and CEO of Shield Safety commented: “We recognise that a passionate, dedicated and highly competent EHP is a well-rounded individual, which is why we are committed to supporting our EHPs with CPD opportunities linking both directly to the areas of Environmental Health we focus on and those areas that we don’t.
“With a vision focused firmly on advancing safety to ensure that we are protecting people’s health, because there is truly nothing more important, it is our mission to be the best we can be both as individuals and as a team to deliver world-class safety solutions that safeguard livelihoods and save lives.”
