A 21-year-old student from Sunderland has become the first apprentice in England to complete the SHE Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship.
Anna Gaughey (pictured), who has worked for training firm Penshaw View for three years, passed her end point assessment last month.
Launched two years ago, the SHE technician apprenticeship is a level three qualification (the equivalent of two A Levels). Completion of the two-year course enables apprentices to start their career as a safety and health professional and join IOSH at TechIOSH level.
It was spearheaded by a working group comprising Balfour Beatty, Costain, High Speed 2, Mitie, Morrison Utilities, Permission Homes, Sapa UK, Sisk, Skanska and Thames Water, to address the impact that technological innovations are having on business working practices and is supported by IOSH, Unite the Union and others.
Anna began her career at Penshaw View Training as a business admin apprentice but displayed a keen interest in health and safety. Soon after joining she moved across to Penshaw’s sister company, Penshaw View Health & Safety Services, where she completed her IOSH Managing Safely qualification. Eager to progress in OSH, Anna wanted to progress and gain further health and safety qualifications and experience. The next natural progression was to gain a level 3 health and safety qualification.
'I would recommend completing the SHE to anyone who learns best through practical learning'
‘The team at Penshaw View is extremely proud of Anna, who has helped us demonstrate why our quality training provision leads the marketplace for this qualification,’ said Chris Breckon, senior operations manager.
‘Penshaw View’s in-learning SHE Technician apprentices are now in excess of 100, working with organisations such as Amazon and Interserve. These are truly exciting times ahead for the company, and the health and safety industry in general as new hungry OSH professionals enter the workspace,’ added Chris.
'As an apprenticeship training provider, the SHE Technician was a real niche area for us. Bringing together our apprenticeship delivery skills along with our health and safety knowledge and experience it was the perfect apprenticeship for us to deliver. The SHE Technician is our fastest growing apprenticeship where we deliver nationally across England for employers from SME’s to large blue-chip organisations.'
During their apprenticeship, SHE technicians develop, review and check on the implementation of safe systems of work, deliver training (such as toolbox talks and inductions), investigate incidents, analyse data and present findings to the management team. Apprentices learn while they earn, dividing their time between doing off-the-job training (20%), office work and fieldwork, providing advice to others on how to work without harming themselves or others. Employers with a payroll over £3m can claim funding from the apprenticeship levy.
'I would recommend completing the SHE to anyone who learns best through practical learning,’ commented Anna.
‘Being able to complete my learning through working allowed me to improve my knowledge, skills and behaviours around health and safety. I can’t believe I’m the first SHE learner to complete in the country, I hope there’s many more to come!’