Oliver Williams, Regional Health & Safety Manager

Tell us more about your background

I think my passion for health and safety stemmed from my role as a site manager at a construction company. This wasn’t an area that I necessarily felt a passion for, so when the opportunity to train as a health and safety officer within the company arose, I leapt at the chance. I’ve always taken a particular interest in this area, so when I was accepted for the position, things just snowballed from there. I went on to fulfil several more health and safety-based roles before joining WorkNest in 2013. I served as a consultant for three years before moving on to the Regional Health & Safety Manager role, and I continue to hold this position today, managing a team of 15 consultants. All-in-all, my experience in the field now spans 13 years.

What does your role at WorkNest entail?

Lots of coffee, emails and phone calls – that’s the short version! More specifically, much of my time is spent engaging with my team of consultants and the wider business in delivering our service. I also look after my own small group of clients, ranging from a large, 700-employee leisure resort to my local chemist, and spanning the hospitality, manufacturing, and charity sectors. I feel there’s a nice balance to my role. As a chartered member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, I can help my team with technical queries or anything unique or difficult. However, I’m also able to get out on-site, which is quite unusual for regional managers. I also spend a portion of my time developing new ways of working and planning the integration of new software into our strategic approach. My approach is simple and direct. I am strictly people-focused, and like to get straight to the point without any jargon or unnecessary complications. I also like to get close to the client’s culture and almost become a part of their team.

Which aspect of the role do you enjoy the most, and which do you find most challenging?

Because people and clients are at the centre of my approach, the most rewarding and challenging aspects of my role always revolve around them. For me, it’s always a joy to speak with a client and find out that they took heed of our advice and that it brought them positive results. On the flip side, it can be tough to deliver news to a client which you know is going to have a significant impact on them. However, the key is in how you approach that conversation; that’s something that comes with experience.