Question
I was a successful conference and catering manager and enjoyed my job, but due to the excessive hours I left the catering industry nearly 10 years ago. I am now 55 years old.
Since then I have been a health and safety assessor and a retail sales adviser. I have recognised qualifications in health and safety but am finding it difficult to obtain a suitable health and safety position. I was wondering whether there are any opportunities in the catering industry.
What the expert says
Nick Gourley, UK sales director, Blue Arrow Catering
Having reviewed your CV, my immediate thought was that you could look for a job as a risk assessor for student work placements. This would make use of your knowledge of the hospitality industry together with your health and safety qualifications.
Catering faculties in every college and university have an obligation to conduct a risk assessment review of every catering and hospitality establishment that they include in their work placement programmes. Given the number of students who attend daily, weekly and annual placements, I am sure there must be a plethora of opportunities for health and safety experts like yourself.
I would try to contact the placement officers or directors of catering at some of your local universities and catering colleges to establish who employs the risk assessors for their departments. Once you have established the most appropriate contacts, you could try finding contacts for the rest of the UK.
Placements for NVQ-level courses are likely to be at local companies. However, placements for HND and degree courses are with national and international companies.
I would recommend trying to make contact by telephone in the first instance. Make sure you carry out research about the colleges and universities you are contacting first. Establish which courses they have and the number of students per course each year. I would also recommend that you conduct research regarding the obligations of both parties involved in the placement process. This will ensure you appear knowledgeable, credible and professional.
Both employers and employees are becoming aware of their legal and moral obligations in relation to health and safety. The public sector, which is one of the UK's largest employers, could also provide a wealth of opportunities in, for example, councils, nursing homes and NHS trusts.