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Competent Person Consultancy for businesses in the South East & across the UK

We act as the appointed competent person for businesses that need clear, practical health and safety support. Whether you are a small growing business or a multi-site operation, we help you meet your legal duties, keep people safe and avoid unnecessary paperwork and stress.

Support levels

From as little as two days of support per year to 2–3 days per week over 12 months

Where we work

Based in the South East, most of our work is in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London, Essex – although we often provide competent person support UK-wide where demand and budget make sense

Pricing

Most contracts have ranged from around £1,100 per year, with the majority under £2,300 (as at 2025-26)

Guarantee

We provide highly professional and qualified competent person services that guarantee you will never have to worry about a visit from the HSE

Our Clients

Before deciding whether we’re the right fit for your competent person consultancy, we believe it’s important you see the kinds of clients we’ve supported over the past 20+ years.

You can explore a selection of those by clicking on the logos below.

SIRS Navigation Berry Gardens Tate Fencing Cambria Automobiles plc The Football Pools Capespan Transcover Covea Wonga CW Fire David Payne & Son Delcam

See our Competent Person Consultancy pricing

What does it cost?

Competent Person Consultancy at a glance

A competent person is someone with sufficient training, experience and knowledge to help an employer meet their health and safety duties.

We act as your outsourced competent person, providing independent advice, clear documentation and practical support so that you stay compliant, without being overwhelmed.

What is a Competent Person?

A competent person is someone with sufficient training, experience and knowledge to help an employer meet their health and safety duties.

We act as your outsourced competent person, providing independent advice, clear documentation and practical support so that you stay compliant, without being overwhelmed.

Who is this service for?

This service is ideal for:

  • Companies with five or more employees
  • Companies that do not have an in-house health and safety specialist
  • Companies that have health and safety responsibilities spread across multiple managers or sites
  • Companies that want a professional second opinion on their current arrangements.

What outcomes can you expect?

With our Competent Person Consultancy you can expect:

  • A clear understanding of your legal duties and priorities
  • Proportionate, practical controls in place for your main risks
  • A health and safety management system that fits your business
  • Greater confidence when dealing with insurers, clients and regulators
  • Less time worrying about paperwork and more time running your business.

Where do we provide this service?

We primarily provide Competent Person support for businesses in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London and Essex. Where the demand and budget is appropriate, our consultants travel to other parts of the UK and we can also support remotely, where that is practical.

Ready to talk about Competent Person support?

Get in touch

Is a Competent Person a legal requirement?

Yes. UK law – specifically the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations – requires every employer to appoint one or more competent persons to help them meet their duties.

If you employ five or more people, or operate in higher-risk sectors, it is particularly important that your competent person has the right level of training, experience and time to support you.

We act as your appointed competent person, making sure this fundamental legal requirement is clearly covered and that your arrangements are sensible and proportionate to the real risks in your business.

If you are unsure whether your current arrangements satisfy the requirement to appoint a competent person, contact us and we will give you a straight, no-obligation answer.

How our Competent Person Consultancy works

1

Understand your business

We start by getting to know your organisation, your key risks and your existing arrangements. This may be through an initial meeting in person or online, site visit, or review of your current documentation, depending on your situation.

2

Assess and prioritise

We then review your policies, procedures and risk assessments, and carry out any necessary inspections or audits. From this, we identify gaps, prioritise actions and agree what needs attention first.

3

Put practical controls in place

We help you put proportionate controls in place – whether that is updating documents, completing risk assessments, planning training, or addressing specific issues on site. The aim is always to make your system workable, not bureaucratic.

4

Ongoing reassurance and support

Depending on the level of support you agree with us, we then provide ongoing advice, site visits, updates and reviews. You have access to a named consultant for questions as they arise, and we help make sure your arrangements stay up to date as your business changes. You will also benefit from your consultant being ongoing available, as our consultants stay with us for many years.

What our Competent Person Consultancy includes

As your appointed Competent Person, The Safety Effect can provide a comprehensive range of support tailored to your size, sector and level of risk. Typical elements include:

Health and safety policy & management system development

  • Drafting, reviewing and updating your health and safety policy
  • Designing or refining your health and safety management system
  • Creating practical procedures, forms and templates that staff can actually use
  • Supporting you with accreditation schemes

Risk assessments & hazard control

  • Completing or reviewing general workplace risk assessments
  • Helping you develop task-specific risk assessments for higher-risk activities
  • Advising on specialist assessments such as DSE, COSHH, Fire, PUWER and others
  • Helping you eliminate or control risks using sensible, proportionate measures

Audits & inspections

  • Planned health and safety audits of your sites or operations
  • Inspections to identify unsafe conditions and behaviours
  • Clear written reports with prioritised recommendations and action plans

Accident & incident investigation

  • Support following accidents, incidents or near misses
  • Investigations to understand root causes and prevent recurrence
  • Guidance on RIDDOR reporting where required
  • Support in dealing with any follow-up from insurers or regulators

Ongoing advice & updates

  • Access to a named competent person for advice by phone or email
  • Regular updates on relevant changes in legislation and guidance
  • Periodic reviews to ensure your arrangements remain suitable and sufficient

Liaison with third parties

  • Liaison with insurers, clients, principal contractors and regulators on your behalf
  • Support in responding to health and safety questionnaires and tender requirements

CDM support (where relevant)

  • Competent Person support related to CDM duties for construction projects
  • Advice for duty holders and, where applicable, acting as CDM Advisor

You do not need all of these elements to benefit from our Competent Person service. We tailor the level of support so that it is proportionate to your business and its risks.

Ready to talk about Competent Person support?

Get in touch

Pricing for Competent Person Consultancy

We price Competent Person support based on the size of your business, the nature of your risks and the level of support you need over the year. We believe in being as transparent as possible, while keeping flexibility to tailor the service to you.

As a realistic guide (figures as at 2026):

Smaller businesses (single site, lower-risk activities)

Typical annual fees from around £1,100 for a basic level of support over 12 months.

Growing or multi-site small and medium-sized businesses

Many of our Competent Person contracts sit in the range £1,500 – £2,300 per year.

Larger or higher-risk organisations

Higher-risk or multi-site operations may require more regular on-site input, for example 2-3 days per month or even 2-3 days per week over a defined period.

Pricing for this level of support is agreed individually once we understand your scope and requirements.

Because we tailor support to each client, our pricing has ranged from modest annual retainers for smaller businesses through to larger contracts where significant time is spent on site. In every case we aim to provide cost-effective support that does not compromise on quality or professional standards.

If you would like an indication based on your specific situation, please contact us and we will happily outline likely options and budget levels.

Our Guarantee To You

Our huge experience in Competent Person consultancy means that, in the unlikely event of any negative contact from the HSE, we will be available (free) to support you in your response.

All we ask is that you have followed and implemented the recommendations that we provide as part of our work with you.

Why choose The Safety Effect for your Competent Person support?

1

Professional competence you can rely on

Our consultants are professionally qualified and experienced in providing Competent Person support across a wide range of sectors. You are not just buying documents; you are gaining access to people who understand how health and safety works in real businesses.

2

Practical, proportionate advice

We focus on practical, workable arrangements that reflect the actual risks in your business. We do not overload you with unnecessary paperwork or generic templates that nobody uses.

3

Employed consultants, not random associates

Our work is delivered by our own consultants rather than a revolving door of unknown associates. That means you build a relationship with people who get to know your sites, your staff and your culture.

4

Strong regional presence, UK-wide reach

Based in the South East, we have extensive experience with businesses in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London and Essex, and we also support organisations elsewhere in the UK where the demand and budget make sense.

5

Long-term relationships and renewals

Many clients retain us year after year to act as their Competent Person. We see this as a sign that our approach is delivering real value and reassurance.

Where we provide Competent Person support

We are based in the South East and regularly provide
Competent Person Consultancy for businesses in:

  • Kent
  • Sussex
  • Surrey
  • London
  • Essex

Where the need is clear and the budget is appropriate,
our consultants also travel to other parts of the UK.

For some clients, especially those with multiple sites,
we combine on-site visits with remote support to
provide a cost-effective blend.

Ready to talk about Competent Person support?

Get in touch

Competent Person Consultancy FAQs

Do I legally need to appoint a Competent Person?

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Yes. Every employer must appoint one or more competent persons to help meet their health and safety duties.

For smaller, lower-risk businesses this may be an internal person with sufficient training and time. For many businesses, especially where there is limited internal expertise or complex risk, an external Competent Person is the most sensible option.

Can one of our existing managers be the Competent Person instead?

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Potentially, yes – provided they have the right level of competence and enough time to carry out the role properly. We can work alongside your internal person, help them build their competence, or take on the formal Competent Person role where that makes more sense.

How often will you visit our site?

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That depends on your risks and the level of support you need. Some clients only need a small number of visits each year with remote support in between, while others require more regular input. We will agree an appropriate visiting schedule with you as part of your proposal.

Can you help if we already have a health and safety advisor?

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Yes. We can support existing advisors with specific projects, provide an independent review of your arrangements, or act as an additional resource where there is more work than one person can handle.

What happens if the HSE or Local Authority contacts us?

+ –

As your Competent Person we can advise you on how to respond and, where appropriate, liaise with regulators or attend site during visits. Our aim is to help you manage contact from regulators calmly and professionally.

Related Insights

Ready to talk about Competent Person support?

If you are unsure whether your current arrangements are sufficient, or you simply want to explore how an external Competent Person could support your business, we are happy to talk it through.

There is no obligation, and no pushy sales approach – just straightforward advice.