Meet a HSE People Champion – Carly Hughes

HSE People is proud to be working with a team of Champions to raise the profile of the HSE industry and to support our members. Today we speak with Carly Hughes, a Health and Safety Consultant working for SHE Advises Ltd.

What is your job title, where do you work and what do you do?

I am a Health and Safety Consultant working for SHE Advises Ltd. SHE Advises are based in Ipswich, but the team are dotted all over East Anglia, with some of us living in and around Suffolk and I live in Great Yarmouth.

My main day to day role includes offering advice and support on health and safety matters to a number of clients, from an array of different industries. We offer consultancy services, such as the forming of construction phase plans and assisting with the formation of risk assessments and method statements; training services like delivery of accredited courses like IOSH Managing Safely and NEBOSH courses, and bespoke content such as manual handling and CDM Awareness; and auditing, such as site inspections, gap analyses & accreditation audits.

How did you get started in HSE?

I started off at a local offshore company working in their health and safety department as an administrator when I was nineteen years old. It was there that I studied for my NEBOSH General Certificate and have since worked in organisations in the oil and gas industry, utilities, and construction. Working in health and safety was and is my first career choice & I get a great sense of satisfaction knowing I can help people.

Why did you want to become an HSE People Champion?

I would love to become a HSE People Champion for a number of reasons. Firstly I would love to be able to share my experiences to a recognised and reputable platform, for others in the industry to listen to and learn from. I am a key believer that collaboration and raising awareness of issues and trends in the industry is how we spark conversation and get initiatives and campaigns rolling. And lastly I would love to be able to discuss and work with other Champions/others in the industry to show that health and safety professionals aren’t the stereotype, but we are actually human beings who have a passion for people and for their health and wellbeing.

Who or what inspires you?

My mum. She raised me on her own and made me the woman that I am today; she taught me to be strong and to stand on your own two feet, and that if you want something, you should work hard to get it. She has taught me to be independent, hard working and selfless. I am truly very thankful to have her.

What are you excited about for 2023?

To see where SHE Advises can go and how the business itself will grow, meeting new professionals and organisations and assisting new clients. Outside of work I am excited to compete in a powerlifting competition in a couple of weeks, to start my chartership with IOSH, and to go on a few holidays!

If you could have a superpower what would it be?

I would love to be able to travel through time, more so the past I think, to see and learn about historic events that have happened, particularly WWII and the Victorian era.

Describe yourself in three words.

Organised, resilient and caring.

Thank you so much Carly for your time and welcome onboard!