Location

Hybrid split into home working, site visits, plus our support centre in Coleshill, Birmingham.

Why The Works?

🏆 10th Best Big Company to Work For 2024 - 'Best Companies'

We don’t just sell products.
We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play.

The Works. It literally means everything. And whatever your story or background, we’re all about unlocking imagination and making creativity accessible to everyone. Whether you’re engaging with customers on the frontline or supporting our colleagues behind the scenes, your impact can be profound and far-reaching.

This is more than toys and books and art supplies. This is about inspiring people to read, learn, create and play. So, with the right passion, it all starts with you.

Become a Health, Safety & Fire Partner

The Health, Safety & Fire Partner will oversee our Southern Division, which incorporates approximately 250 retail stores across 2 regions and 12 areas; completing compliance audits and training our store teams. The ideal candidate would be based in Southern England and have good access to Coleshill, Birmingham where our head office is based.

Your Mission

• Undertake suitable and sufficient Health and Safety and Fire Risk Assessments (FRA’s), in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• Visit stores and compile fire risk assessment reports through an online portal system, highlighting potential hazards and to provide recommendations to reduce or eliminate risks from these hazards.
• Fire risk assessment reports will, in most cases, be confined to the internal and external areas of our stores.
• Completed fire risk assessments will be used by the Health and Safety Manager, maintenance team and Directors to initiate repairs, or any other procedures required, to ensure the stores remain a safe environment.
• Apply relevant authoritative guidance from central government including PAS 79 and PAS 9980 plus the Fire Safety Act 2021, Building Safety Act 2022 and Building Regulations.
• Escalate issues to the appropriate level if action is delayed or has not been delivered to the correct standard.
• Complete H&S Audit & Inspections as appropriate and feedback to the store teams to complete their understanding so we can ensure the stores reach a very good level of compliance.
• Be available and have confidence to liaise with enforcement authorities as and when required.
• Carry out post incident/fire inspections & report on findings.
• Are able to look at issues through a wider lens, ensuring our teams operate in a safe manner whilst educating them through discussion and demonstration of good practices.

Skills/Behaviours That Will Set You Apart

• Full UK driving Licence.
• Recognised Fire Safety or Fire Risk Assessment qualification (minimum level 3 NEBOSH National certificate in Fire Safety or equivalent).
• Full understanding of the current UK Fire Safety Legislation and the ability to interpret and use fire safety guidance documents, including PAS 79-1, PAS 9980, The Fire Safety Act 2021, The Building Safety Act 2022 and Building Regulations
• Have a working knowledge of Health & Safety legislation and its ability to apply to retail store practices and procedures
• Able to compose written reports using MS Word & Excel programmes
• Self-motivated and organised individual with excellent attention to detail and time management skills, along with the ability to fully explain requirements and the use of fire safety measures.
• Willing and able to travel across the UK and Ireland
• Experience of dealing with enforcement authorities, including fire enforcement officers and environmental health officers

Desirable

• Recognised H&S qualification
• To have a personal listing on a current fire safety register (IFE/IFS/PFO/FRACS or equivalent approved body) or be willing to work towards such listing

Our PERKS really are ‘The Works’

• 💪 25% Colleague Discount! - Plus, exclusive Double Discount days!
• 😎 MyWorks - Access exclusive online discounts across hundreds of retailers, holidays, utilities deals, tech and more!
• 🚀 Holiday – 33 days including bank holidays.
• 💃 Holiday Purchase - Purchase an additional 5 days
• 🎓 Can-Do Academy - Grow your skills and career with instant access to further training and development in areas that interest you.
• 💸 Wagestream - Claim early access to 50% of your wages as you earn them – for when ‘life’ happens!
• 🏬 Share Scheme - Unleash your inner Monopoly mogul and own a piece of The Works!
• 💛 24/7 support for you and your family - Through our partnership with the Retail Trust who provide an Employee Assistance Programme and so much more!
• 🩺 Healthcare Cash Plan – To support your everyday healthcare costs
• 🥳 And loads more! – Long Service Awards, pension, life assurance, Cycle to Work and optional charity giving.

Our Purpose

To inspire reading. learning, creativity and play - making lives more fulfilled.

Our Values

We are Crafty | We are Caring | We are Can-do

We Listen. We Care

Each year, we run an anonymous colleague engagement survey. This is so important for us to hear your feedback and suggestions. We want to know what’s going great, and what needs a couple of tweaks to help make The Works the best place you’ve ever worked! You’ll have opportunity to help give us that direction.

Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Applying Reasonable Adjustments

At The Works, we are proud to have an inclusive culture where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. Our roles are open to all, including under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, carers & members of the LGBTQ+ community (including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, non-binary, or use another term).

We are open to discussions around working hours and flexible working. And, where possible, we'll try to support this. If you need reasonable adjustments for an interview you might attend with us, let us know in your application and we’ll be happy to help!