Demand for qualified health and safety trainers is at its highest level in five years, according to data from training industry bodies and job market analytics. The surge is being driven by a combination of new compliance deadlines arising from recent legislative changes, increased HSE enforcement activity, and a significant backlog of overdue training that accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Compliance Backlog
Many organisations that suspended or reduced health and safety training during the pandemic have found themselves with large numbers of employees whose training certificates have expired or are approaching expiry. The HSE's post-pandemic enforcement campaign, which has focused on training compliance as well as physical safety standards, has accelerated the urgency with which organisations are addressing these backlogs.
New Legislative Requirements
The introduction of new requirements under the Building Safety Act 2022, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, and the updated Manual Handling Operations Regulations guidance has created additional demand for specialist training in these areas. Organisations that previously relied on generic health and safety training are now finding that they need more specific, task-related training programmes.
The Opportunity for Trainers
For qualified health and safety trainers, the current market conditions represent a significant opportunity. Day rates for experienced health and safety trainers have increased by an average of 15% over the past two years, and many trainers report being booked several months in advance.
For those considering entering the field, HealthAndSafetyTrainer.ie and HealthAndSafetyTraining.ie provide information on available qualifications through Abertay Training.