Retained Health & Safety Support
Retained Health & Safety Support in Newcastle
Ongoing Competent Health & Safety Support for Businesses Across Newcastle and the North East
A&T Consultancy provides retained health and safety support that gives businesses access to competent advice, practical support and experienced guidance whenever it’s needed
From day-to-day compliance questions to workplace documentation, audits and contractor requirements, we work alongside your business to help you manage health and safety with confidence.
Chartered Health & Safety Expertise
NEBOSH Diploma Qualified
ISO 45001, 9001 & 14001 Specialists
CHAS Specialists
Ongoing Health & Safety Support
What Is Retained Health & Safety support?
Retained health and safety support gives your business ongoing access to competent advice through an agreed working relationship. Instead of seeking help only after a problem arises, you have a consultancy that can build an understanding of your operations, workplace risks, management arrangements and client requirements over time.
The service is particularly relevant where a business does not have the necessary health and safety competence in-house or cannot justify employing a full-time health and safety manager. UK employers must appoint one or more competent people to help them meet their duties. A competent person needs the skills, knowledge and experience to recognise hazards and help the business introduce sensible controls.
A&T Consultancy works alongside business owners, directors and managers, providing practical guidance as new projects, employees, contractors and workplace changes introduce fresh responsibilities. Support can include reviewing existing arrangements, improving documentation, answering day-to-day questions and identifying where further action may be required.
Using an external adviser does not transfer the employer’s legal responsibilities to the consultant. The purpose of retained support is to help the business make informed decisions, manage significant risks and maintain suitable arrangements internally. HSE guidance also states that consultancy advice should be specific to the workplace, focused on practical action and proportionate to the risks rather than generating paperwork for its own sake.
What's Included
What's Included in Our H&S Retainer Services For North East Employers
Every business has different responsibilities, risks and client requirements, so retained health and safety support should provide practical support that reflects how your organisation operates. Rather than delivering generic advice or producing documentation that sits on a shelf, A&T Consultancy works alongside your business, providing ongoing guidance that helps you manage health and safety as your workplace evolves.
Competent Health & Safety Advice
Access to competent advice when health and safety questions arise can help businesses make informed decisions before issues develop into larger problems. From interpreting client requirements and discussing workplace concerns to providing guidance on new projects or changes in working practices, retained support gives you direct access to experienced advice throughout the year.
Documentation Reviews and Development
Health and safety documents should reflect how work is actually carried out. We review existing documentation, identify where improvements may be needed and assist with developing practical policies, procedures and supporting documents that are appropriate for your business rather than relying on generic templates.
Workplace Inspections and Audits
Regular inspections and audits provide an opportunity to identify hazards, review existing control measures and highlight areas for improvement before they result in incidents, client concerns or enforcement action. They also help demonstrate that health and safety arrangements are being actively monitored rather than simply documented.
Day-to-Day Business Support
Health and safety responsibilities often change as businesses recruit new employees, appoint contractors, purchase equipment or take on new contracts. Retained consultancy provides ongoing support as these changes occur, allowing you to seek advice when new situations arise instead of waiting until an annual review.
Support with Client and Contractor Requirements
Many organisations are asked to provide health and safety information before starting work or tendering for contracts. We help businesses respond to client questionnaires, review contractor requirements and prepare supporting documentation, making it easier to demonstrate that suitable health and safety arrangements are in place. This includes preparing for CHAS and Constructionline accreditation.
Continuous H&S Improvements
Effective health and safety management is an ongoing process. As legislation, working practices and business activities change, retained consultancy helps businesses review existing arrangements, identify opportunities for improvement and develop systems that remain suitable as the organisation grows, including ISO 45001, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 management systems.
Why Businesses Choose Retained Support
The Benefits of an Ongoing Health & Safety Partnership in Newcastle
Every business has different responsibilities, risks and client requirements, so retained health and safety consultancy should provide practical support that reflects how your organisation operates. Rather than delivering generic advice or producing documentation that sits on a shelf, A&T Consultancy works alongside your business, providing ongoing guidance that helps you manage health and safety as your workplace evolves.
A Better Understanding of Your Business
The more familiar a consultancy becomes with your workplace, activities and objectives, the more relevant its advice can be. Over time, retained support develops an understanding of how your business operates, making it easier to provide guidance that reflects your day-to-day activities instead of relying on generic recommendations.
Consistent Support Throughout the Year
Health and safety isn’t something most businesses review once and then forget. Regular contact allows documentation, procedures and working practices to be reviewed as the business develops, helping arrangements remain suitable as projects, staffing and client expectations change.
Faster Access to Advice
Questions often arise when decisions need to be made quickly. Having an established relationship with a retained consultancy means you can seek advice on workplace issues, contractor management or client requirements without first finding and briefing a new consultant on how your business operates.
Supporting Business Growth
As organisations expand, they often encounter new compliance requirements, larger contracts or requests for accreditation. Retained consultancy provides continuity during periods of growth, helping businesses prepare for new responsibilities while maintaining suitable health and safety arrangements.
A Practical Alternative to Employing an In-House Health & Safety Manager
For many small and medium-sized businesses, employing a full-time health and safety manager isn’t necessary. Retained consultancy provides access to competent support when it’s needed, allowing businesses to benefit from experienced guidance without the ongoing commitment of a full-time role.
Why Businesses Across The North East Choose A&T Consultancy
Practical Health & Safety Support Built Around Your Business
Every business needs competent health and safety advice, but the way that advice is delivered can make all the difference. A&T Consultancy focuses on building long-term relationships, providing direct access to experienced consultants and delivering practical support that helps businesses make informed decisions with confidence.
1. Direct Access to the Consultants
When questions arise, you’ll speak directly to the people responsible for delivering your retained health and safety support. There are no account managers or multiple layers of communication. The people providing the advice already understand your business, allowing conversations to remain focused, practical and relevant.
Direct communication
Consistent points of contact
Advice from consultants who know your business
2. Ongoing Support as Your Business Evolves
Health and safety responsibilities change as businesses recruit staff, win contracts, introduce new equipment or expand into different areas of work. Retained consultancy provides continuity, allowing your health and safety arrangements to develop alongside your business instead of being reviewed only when problems arise.
Support throughout the year
Advice as your business changes
Guidance for new projects and responsibilities
3. Practical Advice That Works in the Real World
Good health and safety advice should help your business operate effectively, not simply generate paperwork. We focus on practical recommendations that can be implemented within your workplace, helping you manage risks while supporting day-to-day operations and commercial objectives.
Practical workplace solutions
Advice that reflects your operations
Focused on improving day-to-day management
4. Chartered Expertise Supporting Every Decision
Retained clients benefit from advice backed by Chartered Health and Safety expertise, Chartered Management expertise and NEBOSH Diploma-level knowledge. Our recommendations are based on recognised professional standards while remaining practical and proportionate to the way your business operates.
Chartered Health & Safety Expertise
Chartered Management Expertise
NEBOSH Diploma Qualified
Is Retained Support Right for You?
Which Businesses Benefit from Retained Health & Safety Advice?
Retained health and safety support is most valuable where responsibilities extend beyond what directors or managers can confidently manage alongside their main roles.
It provides an established source of competent advice while allowing the business to retain ownership of its workplace arrangements and decisions.
- 01
Businesses Without Suitable In-House Competence
Some organisations have capable managers but no one with the training, knowledge and experience needed to advise on more involved health and safety matters. Retained consultancy can fill that competence gap while working with the people who understand the workplace, workforce and operational pressures firsthand.
- 02
Growing Businesses Facing New Responsibilities
Recruiting employees, moving premises, introducing machinery or entering new sectors can alter a company’s risk profile. A retained consultant can help management assess what has changed, assign responsibilities and update existing arrangements before outdated controls become embedded in the business.
- 03
Contractors Working to Client Standards
Contractors are frequently required to demonstrate how they assess risk, manage subcontractors, brief workers and monitor site activity. Ongoing consultancy can support the management arrangements behind that evidence, rather than helping only when a questionnaire or tender deadline arrives.
- 04
Organisations With Higher-Risk or Complex Activities
Manufacturing, construction, engineering and other operational environments may involve machinery, work at height, hazardous substances, lifting operations or multiple contractors. These conditions can require a greater level of competence than a low-risk workplace, with advice proportionate to the work being undertaken. HSE describes competence as the ability to apply training, skills, experience and knowledge to the task and workplace concerned.
- 05
Businesses That Need More Consistent Oversight
A company may already have policies and risk assessments but lack a reliable process for checking that controls remain effective. Retained support can assist management with planned reviews, inspections and follow-up actions, supporting the ongoing cycle of planning, implementation, monitoring and improvement described in HSE guidance.
Areas We Cover
Supporting Businesses Across Newcastle and the North East
A&T Consultancy works with businesses across Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Gateshead. Whether you need retained health and safety consultancy, support with contractor accreditations or help implementing ISO management systems, we provide practical advice that reflects the way your organisation operates.
Being based in the North East allows us to build long-term relationships with local businesses while supporting organisations across a wide range of industries and workplace environments.
Call Now For a Consultation
0333 339 4551
Locations
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- North Tyneside
- Northumberland
- South Tyneside
- Gateshead
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Our Health & Safety Consultancy Services
What does a health and safety consultancy do?
A health and safety consultancy helps businesses identify workplace risks, meet their legal responsibilities and develop practical systems that protect employees, contractors and visitors. The level of support can range from one-off advice and documentation through to ongoing retained consultancy.
At A&T Consultancy, we work with businesses across the North East to provide practical health and safety support that reflects the way each organisation operates. This can include carrying out risk assessments, preparing RAMS, undertaking workplace inspections and audits, developing health and safety policies, supporting contractor management and helping businesses work towards accreditations such as CHAS and Constructionline. We also assist organisations implementing ISO 45001, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 management systems.
The aim is not simply to produce paperwork, but to help businesses build workable health and safety arrangements that support day-to-day operations, demonstrate compliance and adapt as the business grows.
Does my business legally need a health and safety consultant?
Not necessarily. UK law does not require every business to employ a health and safety consultant, but employers must have access to competent health and safety advice. For many small and medium-sized businesses, outsourcing this role is a practical and cost-effective alternative to employing a full-time health and safety manager.
The level of support you need depends on factors such as the size of your business, the risks involved in your work and any client or contractor requirements. Businesses operating in higher-risk sectors, managing multiple contractors or tendering for larger contracts often benefit from ongoing professional support. A competent health and safety consultancy can help you develop suitable risk assessments, policies and procedures, keep documentation up to date and provide guidance as your business grows or regulations change.
Can you act as our competent health and safety adviser?
Yes. A&T Consultancy can provide businesses with ongoing access to competent health and safety advice through a retained consultancy service. This gives you a dedicated point of contact for day-to-day guidance, helping you manage workplace health and safety responsibilities without employing a full-time health and safety manager.
As your business develops, we can assist with reviewing risk assessments, preparing RAMS, updating health and safety policies, carrying out workplace inspections and audits, supporting contractor management and advising on client or accreditation requirements. Because every business operates differently, our support is designed around your activities, helping you make informed decisions and maintain practical health and safety arrangements over the long term.
What types of businesses do you work with?
A&T Consultancy supports businesses across a wide range of industries, including construction, manufacturing, engineering, commercial premises, offices, warehouses and growing SMEs. While every workplace has different risks, the aim is always the same: helping businesses develop practical health and safety arrangements that reflect the way they operate.
Support can range from ongoing retained consultancy to individual services such as risk assessments, RAMS preparation, workplace inspections, health and safety audits, contractor support and assistance with CHAS, Constructionline and ISO management systems. We regularly work with businesses throughout Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, Gateshead and the surrounding areas, adapting our advice to each organisation rather than applying a standard template.
What's included in retained health and safety consultancy?
Retained health and safety consultancy provides ongoing access to competent health and safety support, rather than one-off advice. Instead of dealing with issues as they arise, your business has a trusted adviser who understands your operations and can provide practical guidance whenever it’s needed.
Depending on your requirements, retained support may include reviewing risk assessments, preparing RAMS and health and safety policies, carrying out workplace inspections and audits, advising on contractor management, helping you respond to client requirements and providing guidance following changes to your business or working practices. At A&T Consultancy, you’ll deal directly with experienced consultants who take the time to understand how your business operates, allowing advice to be practical, proportionate and relevant to your day-to-day activities.
Can you help us achieve CHAS or Constructionline accreditation?
Yes. A&T Consultancy supports businesses preparing for CHAS and Constructionline accreditation by helping them develop the documentation, systems and evidence required during the application process. The objective is to present clear, accurate information that demonstrates how health and safety is managed within your business.
Support can include reviewing existing policies, preparing or updating risk assessments and RAMS, identifying gaps in documentation and advising on the information commonly requested during accreditation. We also help businesses maintain their health and safety arrangements after accreditation has been achieved, making future renewals more straightforward and reducing the need to recreate documentation each time.
Do you support businesses with ISO 45001, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001?
Yes. A&T Consultancy helps businesses implement ISO 45001, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 management systems, carry out internal audits and prepare for independent certification. The focus is on developing management systems that are practical, easy to maintain and integrated into everyday business operations, rather than creating documentation that sits unused.
Whether you’re introducing an ISO management system for the first time or improving an existing one, we can help review your current arrangements, identify areas for improvement and support implementation. Our CQI/IRCA auditing qualifications enable us to assist businesses in preparing for certification audits while developing systems that continue to add value long after certification has been achieved.
How often should health and safety risk assessments be reviewed?
Risk assessments should be reviewed whenever there is reason to believe they are no longer valid or when significant changes occur in the workplace. This might include introducing new equipment, changing work processes, moving premises, taking on different types of work, or following an accident or near miss. Even where nothing has changed, regular reviews help confirm that existing control measures remain suitable and effective.
Keeping risk assessments up to date is an important part of managing workplace health and safety. As businesses grow, new hazards and responsibilities can develop, making periodic reviews a sensible part of ongoing health and safety management. A&T Consultancy can review existing assessments, identify where updates are needed and help businesses maintain documentation that reflects their current operations.
Can you review our existing health and safety documentation instead of starting again?
Yes. In many cases, reviewing and improving existing documentation is more practical than replacing it entirely. If your current policies, risk assessments, RAMS or safe systems of work reflect how your business operates, they may only need updating to address changes in legislation, working practices or client requirements.
A&T Consultancy begins by assessing what documentation you already have before recommending any changes. This helps avoid unnecessary duplication and allows businesses to build on existing arrangements where appropriate. The aim is to develop documentation that is accurate, practical and straightforward for employees and contractors to follow, rather than creating paperwork simply for the sake of it.
Do you only work with businesses in Newcastle?
No. While A&T Consultancy regularly supports businesses in Newcastle upon Tyne, our services extend across North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, Gateshead and the wider North East. We work with organisations of all sizes, providing practical health and safety support that reflects the risks and requirements of each business.
Whether you need ongoing retained consultancy, assistance with CHAS or Constructionline accreditation, ISO implementation, workplace inspections or health and safety documentation, our approach remains focused on providing clear, practical advice and developing long-term working relationships. If you’re unsure whether we cover your area or the type of support you require, we’re happy to discuss your requirements.
Why choose an independent health and safety consultancy instead of a large national provider?
Choosing an independent health and safety consultancy often means receiving a more personal and consistent level of support. Instead of speaking to different advisers or working through multiple departments, you’ll usually have direct access to the consultants who understand your business, your workplace and the challenges you face.
At A&T Consultancy, we build long-term relationships with our clients by providing practical advice that reflects how their business operates. Rather than relying on generic templates or standardised processes, we take the time to understand your organisation, helping develop health and safety arrangements that are relevant, proportionate and easier to implement. This continuity allows us to respond more effectively as your business grows, takes on new projects or faces changing client requirements.
How do we get started with A&T Consultancy?
Getting started begins with an initial conversation about your business, the work you carry out and the support you’re looking for. This allows us to understand your current health and safety arrangements, identify any immediate priorities and recommend the most appropriate level of support.
Some businesses require ongoing retained consultancy, while others may need assistance with a specific project, accreditation, audit or management system. Following the initial discussion, we’ll explain how we can help and agree the most suitable way forward based on your requirements. Our aim is to provide practical, proportionate advice that supports your business both now and as your requirements evolve.
Can A&T Consultancy provide one-off health and safety support, or do I need an ongoing contract?
Yes. A&T Consultancy can provide both one-off health and safety services and ongoing retained consultancy, depending on your business requirements. Some organisations only need support with a specific task, such as a risk assessment, workplace inspection, health and safety audit, RAMS preparation or assistance with an accreditation application. Others benefit from regular access to competent health and safety advice as their business develops.
The most suitable option depends on the complexity of your operations, the level of risk involved and whether you require continued guidance. Where ongoing support is appropriate, retained consultancy provides access to experienced advisers who understand your business and can assist as new challenges arise.
Contact Us
Ready to Discuss Your Health & Safety Requirements?
If you’re considering health and safety support, we’re happy to discuss your business, your current arrangements and the level of support that may be right for you.
Whether you need ongoing consultancy or advice on a specific issue, we’ll provide clear, practical guidance with no obligation to proceed.