09.06.2025

Recognising a need to reignite their Safety First initiative to improve understanding and commitment to behavioural safety, Adey Steel enlisted Make UK to deliver a company-wide training programme tailored to the organisation.

Adey Steel is a steel fabricator headquartered in Loughborough, in the East Midlands. The business specialise in steel infrastructure fabrication to the rail, highways, construction and energy sectors. Family-owned and managed, Adey Steel is passionate about delivering projects to the highest possible standards. 

Although Adey Steel has a strong ‘Safety First’ initiative, first introduced in 2014 with the aim of providing a visible framework to address safety at a cultural level, the company recognised that it was not fully understood or embraced by all employees. Limited clarity led to a lack of personal responsibility for safety, which Adey Steel acknowledged needed to be addressed to ensure a safer work environment for everyone. 

As a Make UK Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) subscriber working with Make UK on the project was the logical choice. Familiarity with other behavioural safety programmes, Make UK have supported similar businesses which gave Adey Steel confidence in the ability to deliver on this project. 

Following discussions with Make UK, it was agreed that a company-wide training programme would be an excellent way to establish a robust understanding of the Safety First initiative and ensure that employees, regardless of role, receive consistent and thorough information. 

We embarked on the following initiatives as part of the culture improvement programme:

  1. IOSH Safety for Senior Executives and Directors – This accredited training helps senior leaders understand their health and safety responsibilities to ensure their business is compliant
  2. Bespoke Safety Behaviour Training – Non-accredited bespoke workshops created and delivered for workshop and office staff
  3. Bespoke Production Management - Workshop focusing on hierarchy of control and identification and control of risks in the workshop

Although different courses were selected to ensure appropriate content was delivered to various levels of the workforce, Make UK’s training experts were able to tailor the content to incorporate Adey Steel’s values, competencies and working practices in a consistent fashion. Genuine examples of hazards, often with photographic evidence from workshops at the Adey Steel site, supplemented the standard course content bringing it to life. 

Training was delivered at the Adey Steel site with agreed dates and times to suit their business and production. This in-company delivery method has the additional benefits of minimising disruption and reducing costs, such as travel and venue hire.

Charlotte Taylor, Group HSE/HR Manager at Adey Steel said “I’ve had a lot of positive comments from those who attended the training. The trainer was excellent at providing examples that the staff could understand and apply to their everyday jobs.” 

As expected, the number of near-misses and incidents has increased following the implementation of the training. This rise can be attributed to employees becoming more vigilant and aware of potential hazards as well as feeling free to communicate issues and concerns. 

Charlotte explains, “While this slight upward trend in reported incidents may initially seem concerning, it is actually a positive indicator and the outcome we were hoping to see. It is likely that these near-misses and incidents were occurring before but going unreported. Now employees are actively engaging with safety protocols and identifying areas for improvement all of which will ultimately lead to a safer workplace.”