Qualified Outsourcing Services & Competent Person Support

Many organisations need flexible, qualified, expert health and safety support—whether to deliver a specific project, strengthen internal capability, or provide short term cover during periods of change.

Are you looking for trusted, accredited health and safety specialists providing robust, evidence‑based support? You’ve come to the right place. 

Our outsourced services give you access to senior level expertise as well as routine/operational support without the cost or commitment of a internally employed resource, ensuring your organisation remains compliant, confident, and well governed.

Book consultation
Expert Witness
Meeting between a man and woman in an office

What Is a Competent Person Service?

A Competent Person is someone with the necessary skills, knowledge, experience, and organisational understanding to help you meet your health and safety duties. They provide informed guidance, ensure legal compliance, and support the practical implementation of safe systems of work.

A Competent Person Service provides these skills and the support you need. In practice, a Competent Person Service acts as your trusted adviser, helping you identify risks, implement controls, and maintain a safe, well managed working environment.

We are accessible at the end of a telephone or email message, with guaranteed response time within 6 hours maximum. See our packages below for further information.

The HSE provide guidance on your requirements to  have a Competent Person.   This may help you in determining the level you need, and the extent to which you may benefit from independent support. 

Competent Person

Our Services

We provide flexible, tailored outsourcing solutions to meet your operational and strategic needs. Support can be delivered on a project basis, through short term resourcing, or as ongoing retained assistance via our Competent Person Service.

Short Term Resourcing & Interim H&S Support

Ideal for organisations experiencing temporary gaps in capacity or capability, including:

  • Maternity, sickness, or vacancy cover

  • Support during periods of rapid growth or organisational change

  • Assistance with backlog reduction or specific operational challenges

    Interim support, eg during organisational change or during a recruitment process (we also support you with recruitment, interview and selection of specialist safety and risk professionals)

Get in touch

Outsourced Competent Person Service

Fills the gap if you don’t  need your own internal specialist, or to support your existing team:

  • Acting as your named Competent Person

  • Access to an expert via telephone or email, with response time within 6 hours maximum

  • Providing training, coaching and development of teams 

  • Reviewing and/or completing policies, procedures, and risk assessments

  • Regular monitoring and update meetings to help you keep updated on key industry changes in legislation or guidance 

  • Offering practical guidance to managers and frontline teams

Get in touch

Experienced Project Based Support

Targeted expertise for defined pieces of work, such as:

  • Developing or updating risk assessments and safe systems of work

  • Conducting health and safety audits, safety inspections, or health and safety compliance reviews

  • Implementing new safety initiatives or safety behavioural programmes

  • Preparing for regulatory visits or certification audits, eg to ISO 45001 or ISO 9001

  • Supporting incident and accident investigations and improvement plans

Get in touch

Strategic Safety & Governance Support

For organisations seeking to align operational safety with wider business strategy:

  • Board level briefings and governance frameworks

  • Safety culture reviews and improvement planning

  • Integration of safety values into your wider organisation’s vision

  • Integration of risk assessment outcomes into organisational risk registers

  • Development of KPIs, dashboards, and assurance reporting

  • Development, support and training of consultation and other committee structures 

Get in touch
safety culture
A man and woman sitting in a meeting listening

Is It Mandatory to Have a Competent Person?

Yes. Under UK health and safety legislation (Reg 7, The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999) , every employer must appoint at least one Competent Person to assist them in meeting their legal obligations. This requirement applies to all organisations, regardless of size or sector.

You may appoint someone internally, but many organisations choose to partially or fully outsource this role to ensure they have access to the right level of expertise.

This is helpful particularly where internal resources are limited or where additional specialist knowledge is required.

7 Benefits of a Competent Person

Appointing an external Competent Person provides a range of operational and strategic advantages:

  • Assurance of legal compliance and up to date knowledge of legislation and best practice.
  • Independent, objective advice that supports informed decision making.
  • Reduced risk of incidents, claims, and enforcement action.
  • Improved safety culture and workforce confidence.
  • Access to specialist expertise without the cost of a full time role.
  • Continuity of support during periods of organisational change, absence, or restructuring.
  • Clear documentation and evidence to support governance, audits, and board reporting.
  • Flexibility in service and support levels that are adjusted as your business needs change. 

This service ensures your organisation has the right level of competence embedded into its operations and governance structures.

“Coote Advisory transformed our strategic approach with remarkable precision and insight.”

Contact Us

Get In Touch

Start a conversation about transforming your safety culture and performance

Name(Required)