HPP health-and-safety officer gains leading professional certificate and joins chartered institute

Stuart Chamberlain, the Health and Safety Officer at Oldham-based furniture components manufacturer and distributor Hill’s Panel Products (HPP), has successfully completed a highly respected occupational health training course and become a member of a chartered professional institution which promotes safety and sustainability in global industry.

Mr Chamberlain has gained the National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety from the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) and has since joined The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

He joined HPP in early 2020 before the pandemic and has a career background in distribution, warehousing and production line environments including supervisory, internal auditing and health and safety roles.

In his early months with HPP, he worked with departments across the business to get a deeper understanding of its various activities including manufacturing processes, warehousing, transport logistics, recycling and on-site energy systems.

Speaking about his recent professional development activity, he said: “I carried out the NEBOSH training late last year though the autumn then sat the exam in the winter.

"I received notification earlier this year that I’d successfully passed the exam which I was pleased about.

"NEBOSH is an independent examination board which provides vocational qualifications in health, safety and environmental practice and management.

“Following that, I then joined The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) as an affiliate member.

"But because I now have the NEBOSH qualification and experience gained from health and safety work over the past few years, this summer IOSH transferred me to the level of technical member.”

IOSH is the chartered institution and largest membership organisation for health and safety professionals globally.

It provides expert training and resources for making workplaces safer, healthier and more sustainable.

Its activities for members include professional development, events, helplines and the latest technical advice.

It also collaborates with governments, commissions industrial health and safety research, sets standards and runs campaigns to promote awareness of issues affecting workplace safety, health and wellbeing.

Mr Chamberlain joined HPP after spending 22 years with Rochdale-based Brian Clegg Educational Projects, which supplies art and craft products, furniture and toys to education and retail sectors in the UK and overseas.

He had been after looking for a new career following his decision to take a redundancy offer in 2019.

Following his redundancy, he received advice on training and job opportunities through the Get Oldham Working service run by Oldham Council and other organisations.

He attended careers events including the Oldham Jobs Fair at Queen Elizabeth Hall in autumn 2019, which was organised by Oldham Council and Get Oldham Working.

The event was attended by local employers including HPP, job seekers and people looking to switch careers.

He visited the HPP careers stall and spoke to HR manager Carole Hamnett-Sadler and Marketing and Business Director Dan Mounsey.

This led to him being offered an interview with the company then a job offer.

Mr Chamberlain grew up in Delph, attended Saddleworth School and now lives in Watersheddings.

In his leisure time, he is a member of Saddleworth Golf Club and Saddleworth Ju Jitsu Club.

In addition to supporting Mr Chamberlain and Get Oldham Working, HPP supports a range of education, training, skills and career development activity for people of all ages and levels across the business.

Employees at HPP include school leavers, college leavers and graduates.

Examples of development opportunities include groups of staff from different departments taking ILM leadership training courses this year, apprentices, work placements and support for young people in Oldham and Sheffield through HPP's involvement in the Government's Kickstart programme.

Based in Oldham and with a second UK distribution centre in Sheffield, HPP serves the national kitchen and bedroom fitting industry.

It currently has over 2,000 trade customers and over 180 staff across its sites and supplies over 6,000 products including its own brands of doors and cabinet components.

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