Health & Safety Business Idea - Thoughts?

[FlackUK]

Hello UKBF,

I am keen in making 2017 the year where I can try and set up my own successful business!

Background:
I'm Charlie, 29, married, with a baby due this May!
So although time will be limited, I'd hope that the business will have strong foundations to launch towards the end of the year.

I am a Health & Safety Manager with 7 years of experience in the field. I enjoy what I do, but I am realizing more and more that I am just a number in a big pool of numbers and just following orders. Waking up at 6:00 am to get on the roads to join the rat-race of all the other people doing exactly the same thing. I want to break this cycle for myself!

The Idea:
As stated above I have a strong interest in safety, and being in the UK the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) is the leading organizing body, but there is always fear and worry surrounded going to them for help, also with the new players to the market, other small businesses who think they can just start a business often miss the basic health and safety principles for any business.

At the moment, I am continuing to do my full-time job, and I would like to build this up on the side, I won't be able to visit clients in the working hours as I already have commitments.

This is just a drafted plan of what I plan for the business to provide:

• Blog / News / Updates
• Forms / Templates
• Custom & Bespoke Form Designs
• Purchases (Affiliate products / Safety Signs / Own products)
• Support Forum

Additionally, I would then like to expand into:

• Job Boards
• Customer Services / Consultancy

Would be interested to know what anyone's thought on this business idea is, and any comments / additional thought's they would like to add, I would be very interested to hear from you.

Thank you for reading.
Kind Regards, Charlie

 

[ethical PR]

Have are you going to monetise it?

What market research have your carried out to see if there is a demand for these products.

 

[Nochexman]

Would be interested to know what anyone's thought on this business idea is, and any comments / additional thought's they would like to add, I would be very interested to hear from you.

What is your elevator pitch? Tell us in a few words what you do and why we should employ you?

 

[fisicx]

It's already being done by loads of other people and companies. Often for free as a lead generator for their business. As already stated by @ethical PR how are you going to monetise this? Just getting people to visit the site is going to cost you a decent wodge.

 

[Alan]

As mentioned, you don't actually have a plan or a business idea, or at least haven't articulated it in your post.

"just a drafted plan of what I plan for the business to provide"

A plan needs to cover
- Value proposition ( why customers will pay you money )
- Customers (the only customer you mentioned was affiliate merchants)
- Customer relationships
- Channels
- Key Activities
- Key Partners
- Key resources
- Revenue
- Cost

"anyone's thought on this business idea is"

The only idea I can see in your post is 'Purchases' affiliates & own products ( presumably online ) - so basically a vague ecommerce / affiliate thing focusing on H&S.

I just wrote this list on another post - worth you running through these questions

1. Is this idea something you really want to do - does it fit your personal goals & values
2. Is this idea something that you actually can carry off - do you have or can gain the skills in
3. Is this idea something that plays to your strengths
4. Does you idea solve a real problem or meet a need
5. Can you actually describe in a few words how your idea solves a problem
6. Does this idea exist in some form already? If not why not? (competitors)
7. Can this idea make money? How much & how quickly? (financial forecasts)

 

[ethical PR]

What is your elevator pitch? Tell us in a few words what you do and why we should employ you?

He's not asking someone to employ him

 

[makeyourbusinessbetter]

I am a member of the Federation of Small Businesses and the one area I hear about more than most that affects small businesses is the writing of risk assessments. If you were to offer as part of your service something that would reduce the time small business owners spend on risk assessments then that is something they would be prepared to pay for.

It would be a good idea to attend a few Business Gateway workshops, if you have not done so already. They are free, cover a whole range of topics and very helpful. Put together a simple business plan to make sure you have thought about all the things you should have, work out the likely costs and what you should charge for your various products and services.

Good luck with your business, and the baby!

 

[FlackUK]

Hello all,
Appreciating all the help and comments on this!

@Alan - Your post was very informative and insightful, based on the points you have raised, I have been away and answered each one of them.

1. Is this idea something you really want to do - does it fit your personal goals & values
Yes, safety is to some is a minefield of red tape, then there are others who don't know where to begin, there are some business owners who don't realize the safety basics that are required, nor sometimes have the skills to put a strong safety management system in place.

My goals and values are to help the start-up and small businesses.
With the local councils on the start of moving away from having their own 'in-house' health and safety departments, they are turning to the HSE. This can potentially leave businesses facing fee's for intervention (FFI) charges from the HSE if they are required to investigate/intervene for any reason.

2. Is this idea something that you actually can carry off - do you have or can gain the skills in?
I believe I can provide support and advice for start-up and small-medium businesses on ensuring they have a strong health and safety management system; from the documentation, procedures, policies, risk assessments and signage etc.

I have worked for small businesses and major corporations in implementing health and safety managements systems from the ground - up.

The only skills I do not poses is a chartered membership.
I am NEBOSH Certified and have been for the past 5 years.

3. Is this idea something that plays to your strengths?
Yes, I have been in the industry for over 7 years and still learning.
I have strong safety management system skills along with document/form writing and creation to core business policies and procedures.

4. Does your idea solve a real problem or meet a need?
I believe that it does - I feel that the shift in local councils moving away from health and safety, with the HSE going to be taking more control poses a huge threat to business not meeting the UK safety legislation, and who are then unsure where to get help and support from.

Also, risk assessments are required no matter the size of the business. Only if the business has 5 of fewer employees the risk assessments do not need to be written, but all businesses must have them.

Supporting these businesses is where I feel I can fill the gap.

5. Can you actually describe in a few words how your idea solves a problem?
As above.


6. Does this idea exist in some form already? If not why not? (competitors)
Yes, there are several online services that offer standard templates.

7. Can this idea make money? How much & how quickly? (financial forecasts)
Yes, there is always a demand for health and safety information, resources, and support.
It is forever changing, and businesses constantly need to evolve to ensure they are meeting the legislation and requirements set.

I would like to charge per safety template (cost not set at the moment), these will be completely editable.
Then offer certain packs/collection (cost not set at the current moment) of document types e.g.

• Policy pack
• Procedure pack
• Accident reporting pack

With most new businesses wanting a complete system this will be available to ensure they are legal and compliant for either individual or packs.

I will also be offering products, such as standard signs, posters, equipment through affiliated links. But, I am also able to produce custom bespoke design (e.g. form/signs/posters/leaflets etc.) to sell through the site as well.

I am also currently developing a safety auditing system for mobiles/tablets, along with an accident reporting system to help identify trends and provide management teams with strong core information.

@makeyourbusinessbetter - Thank you for the good wishes! No, I have not been to any business gateways, it may be something I look to know when I know when I can/cannot take holidays due to everything else going on at the moment!

Yes, help and support with risk assessment is something I enjoy and would like to offer a service or support to help review/support risk assessments.


Thank you to everyone else for your comments!

Regards, Charlie

 

[Nochexman]

1. Is this idea something you really want to do - does it fit your personal goals & values
Yes, safety is to some is a minefield of red tape, then there are others who don't know where to begin, there are some business owners who don't realize the safety basics that are required, nor sometimes have the skills to put a strong safety management system in place.

My goals and values are to help the start-up and small businesses.
With the local councils on the start of moving away from having their own 'in-house' health and safety departments, they are turning to the HSE. This can potentially leave businesses facing fee's for intervention (FFI) charges from the HSE if they are required to investigate/intervene for any reason.

2. Is this idea something that you actually can carry off - do you have or can gain the skills in?
I believe I can provide support and advice for start-up and small-medium businesses on ensuring they have a strong health and safety management system; from the documentation, procedures, policies, risk assessments and signage etc.

I have worked for small businesses and major corporations in implementing health and safety managements systems from the ground - up.

The only skills I do not poses is a chartered membership.
I am NEBOSH Certified and have been for the past 5 years.

3. Is this idea something that plays to your strengths?
Yes, I have been in the industry for over 7 years and still learning.
I have strong safety management system skills along with document/form writing and creation to core business policies and procedures.

4. Does your idea solve a real problem or meet a need?
I believe that it does - I feel that the shift in local councils moving away from health and safety, with the HSE going to be taking more control poses a huge threat to business not meeting the UK safety legislation, and who are then unsure where to get help and support from.

Also, risk assessments are required no matter the size of the business. Only if the business has 5 of fewer employees the risk assessments do not need to be written, but all businesses must have them.

Supporting these businesses is where I feel I can fill the gap.

5. Can you actually describe in a few words how your idea solves a problem?
As above.


6. Does this idea exist in some form already? If not why not? (competitors)
Yes, there are several online services that offer standard templates.

7. Can this idea make money? How much & how quickly? (financial forecasts)
Yes, there is always a demand for health and safety information, resources, and support.
It is forever changing, and businesses constantly need to evolve to ensure they are meeting the legislation and requirements set.

I would like to charge per safety template (cost not set at the moment), these will be completely editable.
Then offer certain packs/collection (cost not set at the current moment) of document types e.g.

• Policy pack
• Procedure pack
• Accident reporting pack

With most new businesses wanting a complete system this will be available to ensure they are legal and compliant for either individual or packs.

I will also be offering products, such as standard signs, posters, equipment through affiliated links. But, I am also able to produce custom bespoke design (e.g. form/signs/posters/leaflets etc.) to sell through the site as well.

I am also currently developing a safety auditing system for mobiles/tablets, along with an accident reporting system to help identify trends and provide management teams with strong core information.

@makeyourbusinessbetter - Thank you for the good wishes! No, I have not been to any business gateways, it may be something I look to know when I know when I can/cannot take holidays due to everything else going on at the moment!

Yes, help and support with risk assessment is something I enjoy and would like to offer a service or support to help review/support risk assessments.


Thank you to everyone else for your comments!

Bit long for an elevator pitch!

 

[makeyourbusinessbetter]

You are very welcome.

Also check out The Prince's Trust website for help and support for anyone starting a business up to the age of 30.

 

[Deleted member 283937]

I am a member of The Forum of Private Business and they provide members with a pack that includes all the information and templates you need to be legally compliant with health and safety. Its a great service. They also cover employment law with another pack.
From what I gather there are a lot of business and trade organisations that do this also. So you may find there is quite a lot of competition.

 

[MarkTaylor1968]

This is possibly the most interesting thread I've read in a while - well done Flack UK for getting it started and for others for the feedback and discussion. Having been involved in start ups for the past 20 years, my gut feel is to try to soft launch the service - ie to try to get started without quitting the day job or spending too much. The key challenge is usually in finding new clients, but the very act of trying will be very informative... and, of course, you may well land the first client! Good luck with it!

 

[Samuel Allan]

Hi Charlie, lots of good stuff here but, digesting it all must feel like drinking from a fire hose.

In lots of ways I agree with Mark Taylor and I have to say the input from makeyourbusinessbetter on “risk assessments” is very real.

I am not going to dump a whole lot of data on you here, but if you want a chat you can get me on SKYPE samallan

Cheers

Sam

 

[Catcheet]

quite a long discussion