Health & Safety Advisor

Colas Ltd are a UK subsidiary of the global Colas Group, which operates in over 50 countries worldwide and employs over 55,000 people including over 1500 in the UK across multiple sites. We are specialists in highways construction and have been involved in large-scale UK and international construction projects within the highways, airfields, and marine sectors as well as offering highways maintenance services and manufacturing our own innovative surfacing products. We hold a ‘Gold Investor in People’ award for continuously developing and rewarding our employees, offering excellent career potential.

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Colas Ltd have a great opportunity for a Health & Safety Advisor to join the Area 9 Network based at our Bescot office, WS1 4NL, however there will be an expecation to travel to all Area 9 depots. Reporting to the HSQE you will provide competent, practical advice, guidance and support to management and operational teams across Area 9, helping to ensure the highest standards of health, safety and environmental performance are maintained across our sites and projects. Working closely with operational teams, you will support the implementation of HSEQ management systems, ensuring compliance with UK legislation, company policies and client requirements, including National Highways standards. You will be a visible presence on site, carrying out inspections, audits and safety tours, providing advice and coaching, and helping teams identify and control risks before they become issues.

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys working with people, influencing safe behaviours and making a practical difference to health and safety performance across multiple sites.

As a Health & Safety Advisor, you'll be out on site, working alongside managers, supervisors and operatives to provide expert advice and practical solutions that keep our people safe and our projects compliant. You'll support the planning of works by reviewing risk assessments and method statements, promoting best practice and ensuring health, safety and environmental risks are effectively managed. You'll carry out regular site inspections, audits and safety tours, identifying opportunities for improvement and working collaboratively with operational teams to drive high standards across the contract. When incidents or near misses occur, you'll lead or support investigations, identify root causes and help implement meaningful corrective actions that prevent recurrence. You'll also play a key role in engaging the workforce by delivering toolbox talks, coaching teams and promoting behavioural safety initiatives that encourage ownership, accountability and proactive reporting. Working alongside the HSQE Manager, you'll support compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 management systems, maintain accurate HSEQ records and contribute to internal, external and client audits. This is a varied, fast-paced role offering the opportunity to influence change, build strong relationships across the business and make a visible difference to health and safety performance across multiple operational sites.

The ideal candidate will have experience in a Health & Safety role within construction, highways or civil engineering and be confident providing practical advice in a live operational environment. You're someone who enjoys being on site, building relationships, challenging unsafe behaviours positively and working collaboratively to find solutions. It is essential that you hold a NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent) and a full UK driving licence, with IOSH membership or progression towards GradIOSH being advantageous. A good understanding of UK health and safety legislation, CDM Regulations and ISO management systems is essential, while knowledge of National Highways standards would be a distinct advantage.

We're looking for someone who is approachable, confident and influential, with excellent communication skills and the ability to engage people at every level of the business. You'll be organised, self-motivated and proactive, with a genuine passion for continuous improvement and creating a culture where health and safety is everyone's responsibility.

Here at Colas, we offer a great total compensation package, including:

• A competitive salary and package depending on experience 
• Our Colas Pension Scheme has combined contributions of up to 10%
• Life Assurance Scheme which is x4 basic salary
• 25 days annual leave per year + Public Holidays 
• Holiday Purchase & Selling Scheme
• Hybrid Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
• Family-Friendly Benefits, including Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
• Opportunities to study towards a fully funded Professional Qualification
• Ongoing personal / professional development
• Discounts on car leasing, holidays, cinema tickets, restaurants and much more through our online employee benefits portal

At Colas, our culture is guided by four core values: Respect, Commitment, Pioneering, and Sharing. These values shape how we work, collaborate, and grow together. We believe that respect is the foundation of every relationship. By treating others as we wish to be treated, we foster fairness, transparency, and inclusion within our teams and with our clients, communities, and partners. Commitment means dedicating ourselves fully to everything we do. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to make a meaningful impact. With a pioneering spirit, we prioritise bold innovation over blind ambition. We welcome new ideas, invest in our people, and work to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions that shape the future. Through sharing, we build trust and solidarity, encouraging collaboration and growth at all levels of the business. 

Colas Ltd is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that mirrors the communities we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you want a workplace where your voice is valued and your potential is developed, Colas is the right choice. 

Note to Recruitment Agencies                                                                                                                                         

In line with our Company Policy, Colas Ltd has a preference for direct hiring and we will reach out to our PSL (Preferred Suppliers List) agencies if the role is eligible for release. We do not accept speculative CVs from agencies. If a speculative CV is sent, no fee will be applicable.