HSE goes commercial


The HSE is recruiting a new commercial director “to shape and deliver significant growth in HSE’s commercial portfolio”. 


The new post attracts a salary of up to £100,000 and will have a staff of 45. The new director will be expected to increase major commercial contracts, described by the TUC as “money-spinning private activities”, from around £4.5 million a year to £15 million a year by 2020. 


“The renewed focus on commercial activities will inevitably heighten concerns about HSE’s commitment to its inspection and regulatory functions, with an additional fear resources may be diverted from these already under-pressure activities,” the TUC’s Risks e-bulletin reports. “The substantial human resources to be marshalled by the incoming commercial director appear to be from HSE’s existing staff numbers.” 


As Workplace Report has reported, government funding for the HSE will fall from gradually from £141 million this year to £123.4 million in 2019-20. By then, the cut in government funding to the HSE compared with 2009-10 — the last year of the previous Labour government —will be a massive 46.6%.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/health-and-safety/risks-newsletter/risks-2016/tuc-risks-753-4-june-2016#_Toc452621093