Is that on the SCQF…? Environmental Awareness and Management Programmes

Jenny Pratt, Head of Communications, NEBOSH

NEBOSH is a global brand in health, safety, well-being and environmental qualifications. Its internationally recognised qualifications help to raise the competence of safety and environmental professionals, as well as individuals at all levels in the workplace.

NEBOSH logo

Many health and safety professionals are also tasked with environmental responsibilities – often abbreviated to a ‘HSE’ professional to indicate the breadth of their remit.

Within NEBOSH’s portfolio are three environmental qualifications, all of which are on the SCQF:

  • NEBOSH Environmental Awareness at Work Award (SCQF Level 5)
  • NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate (SCQF Level 6)
  • NEBOSH Diploma in Environmental Management, available in National and International options (SCQF Level 10)

The qualifications aim to offer environmental learning to people at all levels and, in turn, support the organisations they work for to improve their environmental performance.

The Level 5 Award provides an introduction to environmental issues in the workplace. It is accessible to all levels of workers and particularly suitable for people at the start of their environmental learning or for wider organisational rollout to support awareness and knowledge of environmental issues. It can also help organisations with a certified environmental management system (such as ISO 14001) meet the requirement of providing environmental awareness to all workers, yet is flexible enough to allow organisations to ‘tailor’ the qualification to their specific requirements e.g. sector specific aspects/environmental issues.

The Level 6 Environmental Management Certificate gives learners the skills they need to take on environmental responsibilities and support the implementation of environmental management systems.

At SCQF level 10, the Diploma is an advanced, specialist qualification for those aiming to develop and implement effective environmental management systems and strategies.

Quality assurance

All three qualifications are SQA accredited and are on the SCQF. This offers learners – and their employers – an assurance of high quality qualifications that are reviewed and approved by an independent third party.

Luke’s story

Luke Strudley stands looking out to the North Sea, with oil rigs in the background
Renewables focus: Luke Strudley

When Luke Strudley was approaching the end of his military career, he wanted to learn more about environmental issues and started working on the NEBOSH qualifications.

He said: “It was because of the Environmental Certificate that I realised the renewables sector was where I really wanted to be. Something my NEBOSH tutor told us really struck a chord. He said that to protect the planet, people needed to ‘act locally, think globally’. It’s that idea that if everyone contributes in their own small way, then collectively we could avoid environmental catastrophe.”

New career path

Luke was able to use his NEBOSH qualifications to help him start on his new career path and is now an Offshore Wind Turbine Technician with RWE Renewables.

For more information on the qualifications, visit Qualifications – NEBOSH.