Demand for multidisciplinary HSQE professionals at record levels

A growing desire to retain intellectual knowledge within individual organisations is fuelling the demand for multi-skilled health and safety professionals who are able to integrate health, safety, quality and environment (HSQE) operations, says Helen Gotts, Senior Consultant at Resourcing Solutions Ltd, the recruiting expert for the infrastructure, engineering and construction sectors.

Helen Gotts works with construction and infrastructure companies including AMEC and Metronet Alliance and in the last year has helped over 100 HSQE professionals find their next career move. She says the market is experiencing its biggest ever surge in demand for multidisciplinary professionals, and there is currently as much as a 40% shortage of adequately skilled people.

Commenting on the shifting shape of the market for recruiting HSQE workers, Gotts explained: ìWhilst all areas of business are experiencing a rise in demand for multidisciplinary staff, without a doubt the biggest demand is being felt in the construction sector. Using a variety of external consultants for health, safety, quality and environmental advice is one area of practice many construction firms are looking to minimise and in their place they are recruiting experienced practitioners who can lead integrated projects, offer strategic support and vitally allow the business to keep knowledge within its own four walls.î

The rapid rate of demand for multi-skilled staff is having the inevitable consequence of bolstering salaries and recruitment packages are being made more attractive to capture this scarce resource. Helen Gotts says ìit is becoming pretty standard for companies to increase salaries by 20% to attract a HSQE Manager.î

Shaun Davis, Group Director of Health, Safety and Environment, Rok plc, said his company was determined to keep projects to time and to ensure it delivered the best levels of service within its sector. This ensured its customers reaped the benefits of such in-house expertise. ìIn-house advisers who possess this broader skill-set are able to combine a greater understanding of their employersí culture, operations and people with their technical ability and inevitably, they pull a project together more speedily and can help deliver a more effective solution.î

He agrees with Gottsí assessment of the candidate marketplace and says ìfinding good all-rounders is extremely difficult ñ there are simply nowhere near enough people and there is an almighty chase on for those who are available.î