The RoSPA Health and Safety Awards have become a key fixture in the health and safety calendar. Winning an award is a fantastic way to demonstrate a commitment to health and safety excellence and continued progression and success year on year. But did you know that all RoSPA Winners are offered the chance to join the Awards Excellence Forum? For those of you unfamiliar with the Forum…
What is the Awards Excellence Forum?
Established in 2005, The RoSPA Awards Excellence Forum (AEF), connects over 2000 RoSPA Award Winners from 24 countries, to work together and share ‘what works’ and ‘where things went wrong’ when it comes to getting health and safety messages out to more than 7 million workers globally.
RoSPA’s challenge was to think about how to provide access to advice and support for organisations across the globe, and wanted to work towards having Awards Ambassadors in each of the 24 countries currently engaged in the programme. The first of these Ambassadors is Graham Parker, Immediate Past President of IOSH and RoSPA Awards Panel Judge, who is already supporting award winners within his sphere of influence.
“I accepted the role with great pride” Graham remarked. “I have been entering the awards for over two decades with several organisations that I have worked for, then approximately five years ago I was asked if I would like to be part of the judging panel for the Sector Awards and Sir George Earle Trophy, I jumped at the chance”.
So, what does it involve, and what are the benefits?
The Forums are a chance to bring together RoSPA Award Winners in one place, offering opportunities to share how higher performing organisations tackle ill health and keep pace with change. Ambassadors like Graham, attend forums to share his experiences, “I may speak and remind existing winners of the importance of sharing the success of what they have achieved. This will enable me to Mentor entrants and answer questions about the process and an insight of what the Judges look for.”
This year, the AEF has introduced a brand new mentoring programme, helping Forum members to set up mentoring relationships with other Award Winners. The goal is to:
- Aid future continuous improvement within the RoSPA Awards Scheme
- Draw on greater experience to improve their organisation’s safety management systems
- Develop individual entrant’s own skills and careers through the process
“The bottom line for me is to add value for the Award Winners globally helping them to progress and demonstrate the personal and organisational benefits of being part of the RoSPA Global Awards Network” Graham remarks.
How can you become involved?
Interested in joining? There is just one way that you can be a part of the AEF, and that’s by becoming a RoSPA Health & Safety Award Winner. Being a winner is the key to unlocking the door to the AEF, as well as many opportunities such as access to toolkits, career development, brand new Mentoring scheme, advice and guidance from other businesses, and much more.
If you would like to discuss participation in the Forum, nominate representatives to the Forum or more information please contact Karen McDonell Head of RoSPA Scotland & Occupational Health and Safety Policy Adviser Occupational Safety) on 0131 449 9378/kmcdonnell@rospa.com