Meet James: SHESQ Systems and Performance Manager at National Grid
Tell us about your career so far…
I joined energy company National Grid last April after 12 years at BT Openreach, most recently as SHESQ Systems & Performance Manager.
National Grid’s Strategic Infrastructure function is responsible for delivering major new projects to connect more clean, low-carbon power to the transmission network in England and Wales. As part of that, we are setting up new a new SHESQ management system and rethinking how we build a successful SHESQ function to support our projects.
I started out as a customer service engineer at Openreach, and later moved into a role responsible for providing reports and insights on a range of operational metrics, requiring SQL skills. I was eventually leading a team which provides safety reporting, insight, and second-line assurance across Openreach. While I had a focus on data, I aimed to expand my knowledge of operational risk management and challenge the way things have traditionally been done. I completed ISO 45001 Lead Auditor training and am always looking for opportunities to progress and add a bit of rigour to my knowledge, such as through the NEBOSH IIRSM Certificate.
You recently took our NEBOSH IIRSM Certificate in Managing Risk qualification, what did you enjoy most about it?
The fact that the course was e-learning and could be completed at my own pace was great for me and I could chip away at it when I had time (even on holiday!). While I had always looked at the negative consequences of risk, this course emphasises that there can also be positive consequences of risk, which I liked. I also enjoyed understanding the relationship between risk culture, risk management culture, and organisational culture – allowing people to have ideas that contribute to our work, rather than saying ‘that is how we do things’. While I had seen functions in organisational resilience, quality, and business continuity in my previous life at BT, I was provided with more insight into these.
How will you use this learning in your work?
I can embed a lot from the risk management culture and organisational culture section in my work. While I have previously learned a lot on the job and from others, this training felt like the glue to hold it all together.
NEBOSH IIRSM Certificate in Managing Risk
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