Engineering services provider HE Simm is launching an initiative to upskill its entire UK supply chain as part of a new 'Passport to Work' safety initiative.
The MEP firm has committed to providing subsidised training to almost 100 hundred stakeholder companies to increase on-site health and safety competence.
Passport to Work (PTW) will ensure that at HE Simm's MEP projects across the UK, every operative will have received IOSH or accredited safety and awareness training. The scheme goes live on March 1, 2013, with training scheduled to be provided to more than 500 people by the summer.
The company is aiming to set industry-best standards with a zero accident and incident working environment across the business. Passport to Work will also allow it to monitor and enhance its diversity policy, ensuring the company meets both its own and clients' diversity targets.
Gareth Simm, HE Simm managing director, said: 'The Passport to Work is key in our aim to provide the safest possible working practices for all our staff and stakeholders. This is part of our overall Focus 30 initiative which launched to all stakeholders in May to improve the HESQ practices of HE Simm's whole supply chain.'
In addition an online portal has been launched to give stakeholders access to PTW updates, guidelines and training information, while a PTW access card will keep a record of everyone working on-site for HE Simm across the UK.
HE Simm's health and safety training partner, Aspen Thorn, will be delivering IOSH and CITB Managing Safety courses for managers and supervisors, IOSH Working Safely for all operatives and additional training depending on workers' roles and responsibilities.
The initiative also aims to generate insurance savings for the whole supply chain and HE Simm is in talks with a major insurer to get Focus 30 accreditation officially recognised.
Gareth Simm added: 'We have held several workshops with more than 50 companies in our supply chain and they have all given their backing to the PTW. We are aiming to have everything in place for March 2013 and from then only those with the HE Simm Passport to Work, who have proved their competency, will be allowed on site.'
