The Building Safety Group

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Our history

Keeping companies and people safe for over 50 years

The origins of safety groups can be traced back to the Construction (General Provisions) Regulations 1961 which required companies employing more than 20 operatives to appoint one or more ‘safety supervisors’. For many smaller contractors it would therefore be more cost effective to share a safety supervisor with other contractors. And so gradually the concept of safety groups emerged.

Our History

For many smaller contractors it was more cost effective to share a safety supervisor with other contractors. And so gradually the concept of safety groups emerged.

After the regulations were adopted, and with considerable support from a trade federation who provided office space and administrative support at a subsidised rate, the Bristol Safety Group came into being.

History of BSG: Some key events

1973

The Bristol Safety Group had 8 members supported by 1 safety officer (as they were termed back then).

1974

Membership grew rapidly and a second safety officer was employed.

1976

In 1976 our operation area expanded when we merged with the Wiltshire Safety Group to form the Western Counties Safety Group, supporting 50 members with 4 safety officers.

1977

The first senior safety officer was appointed. The group was featured in a trade magazine as a model safety group.

1986

Michael Setter was asked to become Chairman (a post he would hold until his retirement in 2020) and during the next few years the group expanded rapidly.

1989

The group faced a major crisis. The trade federation who subsidised the group wanted to impose conditions on operations, essentially limiting membership to members of the trade federation. These conditions would have restricted the development of the group and so the restrictions were rejected. As a consequence the trade federation withdrew their subsidy completely and as a result the group had 3 months to find offices, employ administration staff whilst at the same time maintaining operations.

Our first office was at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol, occupying 2 bedrooms in a converted dwelling. The next 4 years was a period of rapid growth. The business expanded by merging with safety groups based in Exeter, Oxford and Nottingham.

1992

We moved to offices in Almondsbury, Bristol, which gave us additional space including a training room.

1995

The Board decided that the time had come to change the name of the business to one which had no geographical connotation, as members were based in the Midlands, Wales, South West and on the South Coast.

1996

On 1st February the Building Safety Group Limited was born.  The largest and arguably the best safety group in the UK with some 400 members employing 22 safety officers.  During the year we appointed our first full-time training manager.

1998

In September and after further growth 5 additional safety officers joined the business.

1999

The Board decided that the name ‘safety officer’ was no longer appropriate and perhaps gave the wrong impression.  So it was decided to introduce the name ‘safety adviser’.

We gained our first accreditation in IIP Investors in People. The journey to gain this award was extremely beneficial by having our HR procedures reviewed by an external body.

2000

The business needed more space and so moved to Woodhouse Manor, Almondsbury, Bristol.

2005

With the increase in training activities, it was becoming increasingly difficult to run the courses in the old Manor House and the opportunity of moving to a new office park where we could lease a unit fitted out to our requirements was taken.

2006

In March our new office at Pinkers Court, Rudgeway, was officially opened by the then H M Chief Inspector of Construction, Health and Safety Executive.

2009

Our pen and paper report system was replaced with a ‘the digital pen’.

2010

On the retirement of Andrew Owst as Operations Manager, the Board decided that it was right that the individual charged with the day-to-day running of the business should be a director of the company. So in June, Paul Kimpton was appointed as our first managing director.  Paul had previously been on the board representing a member firm.

2015

Technology had moved on enabling our Safety Advisers to begin using a hand held tablet. This method remains in use today and is being constantly updated.

To celebrate the group’s 50th anniversary it was decided to revamp the safety awards scheme which had been running for many years.  The big change was to move away from a series of events held on a site or in a member’s office, to holding one single event at a suitable venue.  The Williams F1 Conference Centre was selected and proved to be very successful.

2018

Due to ever increasing demand for our training courses and problems with the use of local venues, the decision was made to lease another unit and fit it out to provide 2 state of the art training rooms. A lease was signed for Unit 6 Pinkers Court.

2019

In February the new training suite was officially opened by Luke Hall MP and later that year it was decided to make alterations to Unit 5 (our original office unit) to provide improved office space and a larger training room.

2020

Michael Setter retires as Chairman and is succeeded by Paul Kimpton.

Stephen Bell becomes Managing Director.

2021

Paul Kimpton retires and is succeeded by Neil Sherreard

2022

Today, the Building Safety Group (BSG) remains a not for profit organisation which specialises in providing Health, Safety and Environmental advice and training for the construction industry. BSG has over 800 members which operate across 3500 workplaces throughout the country. We conduct over 20,000 site inspections per year for construction companies as well as train more than 10,000 operatives.

Become a BSG member today

Membership

Become a BSG member today

The impact of a major accident on a company can be devastating. Apart from the human cost, the financial costs can be enough to force a business to cease trading.

We offer a range of membership packages to suit your business needs.

Find out more

Latest news

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01/06

Securing your site over Christmas

13 December 2023

Securing your site over Christmas

When the Christmas shut-down approaches, many people in the construction industry prepare for a well-deserved break, and construction sites across the country are left uninhabited over the festive season. In previous years, members of the public have been killed or injured in construction related incidents. Incidents have included materials being blown off-site, scaffolding collapsing or

Read more
Has your business claimed its CITB Training grant?

12 March 2024

Has your business claimed its CITB Training grant?

Claiming CITB levy payments could mean that your company can train employees for a minimal charge or even at no cost to the business. As a CITB ‘Approved Training Organisation’ (ATO) , The Building Safety Group (BSG) can arrange for you to access automated CITB levy grants. We can advise you on which courses attract payments and how much can be saved, when delivering accredited training. BSG will

Read more
Subscription Billing Periods

12 March 2024

Subscription Billing Periods

For the attention of BSG members: In response to member company feedback about our charging periods, we have decided to align BSG’s subscription billing to the traditional calendar year, 1st January – 31st December. We will make this improvement from the next billing period, which will run from 1st June to 31st December 2024. Thereafter, subscriptions will revert to being billed six monthly

Read more
BSG Member Fees

12 March 2024

BSG Member Fees

For the attention of BSG members: Please be advised that our fees will be increasing from 1st June 2024. The Building Safety Group values your membership highly and we take great pride in providing a service for your business. Like many companies however, especially during these very challenging times, our own operating costs have continued

Read more
Weather warning issued for parts of the UK

03 January 2024

Weather warning issued for parts of the UK

BSG recommends that should your site or operations be in an area which will be impacted by the forecasted storm, you will need to assess the impact. Scaffold Inspection It is the scaffold users/hirers responsibility to ensure that all scaffolding has been inspected as follows: Following installation/before first use At an interval of no more

Read more
Working safely in the winter

13 December 2023

Working safely in the winter

Winter weather has the potential to hit the UK hard, with strong winds, freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and lots of rain. All these elements can cause hazards for construction workers on site. As the weather is uncontrollable and unpredictable, taking precautions to ensure site operatives stay safe is essential. Low temperatures Temperatures that fall to

Read more
Securing your site over Christmas

13 December 2023

Securing your site over Christmas

When the Christmas shut-down approaches, many people in the construction industry prepare for a well-deserved break, and construction sites across the country are left uninhabited over the festive season. In previous years, members of the public have been killed or injured in construction related incidents. Incidents have included materials being blown off-site, scaffolding collapsing or

Read more
Has your business claimed its CITB Training grant?

12 March 2024

Has your business claimed its CITB Training grant?

Claiming CITB levy payments could mean that your company can train employees for a minimal charge or even at no cost to the business. As a CITB ‘Approved Training Organisation’ (ATO) , The Building Safety Group (BSG) can arrange for you to access automated CITB levy grants. We can advise you on which courses attract payments and how much can be saved, when delivering accredited training. BSG will

Read more

What our members say

“With health and safety at the forefront of all that we do our membership of The Building Safety Group (BSG) is invaluable to us. The service is first class and is delivered by consummate professionals who are totally in tune with our needs and requirements.”

Pearce Construction (Barnstaple) Ltd

“BSG’s training was insightful, engaging and has provided me with invaluable knowledge for my job. Thank you BSG.”

BSG Training delegate

“City & Country is rapidly expanding as a business and we needed a health and safety partner that could provide us with national coverage. This is why we selected The Building Safety Group (BSG), who have a UK network of health and safety resources that can support our needs as we grow.

We also firmly believe that joining BSG will strengthen our reputation as a construction company by helping us to continue to deliver the highest standards in health and safety.”

City & Country

“BSG are clearly experts in health and safety training for the construction industry.”

CTS

“We have a responsibility to deliver the highest standards in health and safety for our workforce. This is why we became members of The Building Safety Group (BSG), whose professional and expert advice help to ensure that we remain compliant with industry regulations. We would highly recommend The Building Safety Group.”

E.G. Carter

“With health and safety at the forefront of all that we do our membership of The Building Safety Group (BSG) is invaluable to us. The service is first class and is delivered by consummate professionals who are totally in tune with our needs and requirements.”

Pearce Construction (Barnstaple) Ltd

“BSG’s training was insightful, engaging and has provided me with invaluable knowledge for my job. Thank you BSG.”

BSG Training delegate

Contact us

Today to find out more about how we can help you operate both your team and your business safely and in total compliance.

Membership

0300 304 9070

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0300 304 9070

Technical Support

0300 304 9070

Marketing and Events

0300 304 9090

5 Pinkers Court
Briarlands Office Park
Gloucester Road, Rudgeway
Bristol BS35 3QH

 

Company No. 01109090
VAT No. 139 9633 27

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