RISK AND NEEDS CONSULTANCY
Expert Advice, Practical Solutions
We help businesses and event organisers understand their risks, meet their legal obligations, and ensure they have the right plans, people and equipment in place.
OUR CONSULTANCY SERVICES
Safety Starts by Recognising Danger
In pre-hospital care, the first step is always to assess for danger. Before treatment begins, we look at the environment, identify risks, protect people from harm, and make sure the right support is in place.
Our Risk & Needs Consultancy applies that same practical, safety-first mindset to workplaces, events and public environments. Led by IOSH-qualified health and safety advisors with real-world medical and operational experience, we help you identify hazards, understand your responsibilities, and put proportionate plans, people and equipment in place before problems occur.
From first aid needs assessments to event medical planning and safe systems of work, we help you move from uncertainty to clear, practical and compliant safety arrangements.
Assess the risk. Plan the response. Protect your people.
First Aid Needs Assessment
We evaluate your workplace to determine the level of first aid provision required. We consider the work undertaken, likely hazards, workforce size, first aid kit levels, kit storage and monitoring, first aider numbers, absence cover and emergency service response arrangements.
What this includes
- Review of workplace hazards, staffing and operating patterns
- Recommended first aider numbers, competence levels and equipment
- Clear, proportionate actions to strengthen your provision
Risk Assessment Writing
We identify workplace hazards, how they may cause harm, their likelihood and severity, the controls already in place and the residual risk. The result is a clear, practical assessment that helps you manage risk effectively.
What this includes
- Hazard identification and evaluation of who may be affected
- Review of existing controls, severity, likelihood and residual risk
- Usable documentation with prioritised recommendations
Gap Assessment
We assess your current emergency response capability, identify gaps and advise how to improve training, equipment and processes. Where appropriate, we can run realistic scenarios or practical exercises to test your existing arrangements and highlight areas for improvement.
What this includes
- Comparison of current arrangements against operational needs
- Scenario testing or practical exercises where appropriate
- Prioritised improvement plan covering people, kit and processes
Event Medical Plans
We help event organisers decide what a suitable event medical plan should include. Using recognised guidance and practical frontline experience, we create proportionate arrangements tailored to the event, venue, audience and identified risks.
What this includes
- Proportionate medical resources and suitable clinical capability
- Access, communications, escalation and emergency arrangements
- Practical planning informed by recognised event guidance
Safe System of Work (SSoW) Advice
We support industrial, workplace and event clients to build safe systems of work focused on first aid and the activities they undertake. This helps protect teams, clarify responsibilities and keep operations safe, practical and compliant.
What this includes
- Clear step-by-step safe working methods for relevant activities
- Defined responsibilities, equipment and risk controls
- Practical implementation and review support
Fire Safety Assessment
We review your premises to identify fire hazards, people who may be at risk and the adequacy of your existing precautions. Our practical assessment considers prevention, detection and warning, escape routes, emergency arrangements, fire-fighting equipment, staff information and training, helping you understand the actions needed to improve fire safety and compliance.
What this includes
- Review of fire hazards, ignition sources and people at risk
- Assessment of alarms, escape routes, signage and emergency arrangements
- Prioritised recommendations covering equipment, training and routine checks
How Your Free Initial Consultation Works
Our free initial consultation is designed to help us understand your organisation, event, workplace or environment, and to identify what level of support you may need.
This is a no-obligation conversation where we take the time to learn about your current arrangements, any concerns you may have, and what you are hoping to achieve. It allows us to give clear, practical advice on the most suitable next steps before any paid work is agreed.
Step 1: Tell Us What You Need
Once you submit your enquiry, we will review the information you have provided and contact you to arrange a suitable time for your free consultation.
This may include understanding whether you need support with:
First aid needs assessment
Risk assessment writing
Gap assessment
Event medical planning
Safe systems of work
General safety or medical preparedness advice
At this stage, you do not need to know exactly what service you require. Many clients come to us because they are unsure what level of cover, documentation, equipment or planning they need.
Step 2: We Discuss Your Current Situation
During the consultation, we will ask about your workplace, event, venue or activity. This helps us build a clear picture of your risks, responsibilities and current safety arrangements.
We may ask about:
The type of business, site or event
Number of staff, visitors or attendees
The activities taking place
Known hazards or previous incidents
Current first aid or medical arrangements
Existing risk assessments or plans
Any concerns around compliance, staffing, equipment or emergency response
This conversation is not about catching you out. It is about understanding where you are now and helping you work out what is needed to make your arrangements safer, clearer and more proportionate.
Step 3: We Identify Key Risks and Priorities
Using a practical safety-first approach, we will help identify the main areas that may need attention.
Just like in pre-hospital care, where the first step is always to recognise danger before acting, our consultancy approach starts by identifying what could cause harm, who may be affected, and what controls may already be in place.
This may include looking at:
People at risk
Staff, contractors, visitors, members of the public, vulnerable people or event attendees.Environmental risks
Site layout, access issues, poor lighting, uneven ground, crowd movement, weather exposure or remote locations.Activity-based risks
Manual handling, machinery, sports, alcohol, high footfall, lone working, public events or higher-risk work tasks.Response capability
Whether you have the right first aiders, medical staff, equipment, communication routes and escalation plans.Documentation gaps
Whether your current risk assessments, event plans, emergency procedures or safe systems of work are suitable and up to date.
Step 4: We Explain Your Options
After discussing your needs, we will explain what support may be appropriate. This may be a simple recommendation, a more detailed review, or a formal consultancy package.
We will be clear about what is necessary, what is advisable, and what may be excessive for your situation.
For example, you may need:
A basic first aid needs assessment for a small workplace.
A full event medical plan for a public event.
A gap assessment if you already have arrangements in place but are unsure whether they are suitable.
Risk assessment writing support if you need clear and professional documentation.
Safe System of Work advice where staff need a structured and safe way to complete tasks.
Our aim is to provide proportionate advice based on your actual risks, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Step 5: You Receive Clear Next Steps
At the end of the consultation, we will summarise what we believe your next steps should be.
This may include:
What service would be most suitable
What information or documents we may need from you
Whether an on-site visit is recommended
Whether a document review would be enough
Any urgent safety concerns identified during the conversation
An outline of timescales and likely costs for any further work
There is no pressure to proceed. The purpose of the free consultation is to help you make an informed decision.
What Is Included in the Free Consultation?
The free consultation usually includes:
An initial discussion about your workplace, event or organisation
A review of your main concerns
General guidance on what support may be required
Advice on the most suitable consultancy route
A clear explanation of the next steps
The free consultation does not usually include full document writing, detailed legal compliance reviews, full risk assessments, event medical plans or formal written reports. These can be provided as part of a paid consultancy service if required.
Why We Offer a Free Consultation
We understand that many businesses and event organisers know they need to improve safety arrangements, but may not know where to start.
Our free consultation helps remove that uncertainty. It gives you the chance to speak with someone who understands both safety planning and practical medical response, so you can make confident decisions about protecting your staff, visitors and the public.
Request a FREE initial Consultation
CONSULTANCY SUPPORT
What You Receive
Clear, practical support from review to action.
01Focused review
We examine your current arrangements, risks and operational needs so the advice begins with your real working environment.
02Clear written findings
You receive concise findings that explain what is working, what needs attention and why it matters.
03Prioritised recommendations
Actions are ranked by urgency and kept proportionate to your people, activities and level of risk.
04Follow-up support
We remain available to clarify findings, help plan improvements and support implementation where required.
Free initial consultation
Risk & Needs Consultancy FAQs
Practical answers about workplace assessments, event planning, reports and proportionate safety support.
What is risk and needs consultancy?
It involves reviewing a workplace, organisation or event to identify hazards, assess existing arrangements and recommend proportionate improvements that protect people and support the organisation.
Do you offer a free initial consultation?
Yes. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your concerns and identify suitable support. Any chargeable work is explained and agreed before it begins.
What consultancy services do you provide?
- Workplace first aid needs assessments
- Workplace risk assessments and gap analysis
- Fire safety assessments
- Safe systems of work advice
- Event risk and needs assessments
- Event medical plans
- Relevant policy, procedure and equipment reviews
- Combined workplace safety packages
What is a workplace first aid needs assessment?
It reviews whether first aid staff, equipment, facilities and arrangements are suitable. We may consider hazards, employee numbers, shifts, lone working, site layout, previous incidents, emergency-service distance, visitors and additional needs.
Is a first aid needs assessment the same as a risk assessment?
No. A general risk assessment considers a broad range of hazards and controls. A first aid needs assessment specifically considers the people, equipment, facilities and arrangements required for first aid.
What is a workplace gap analysis?
It compares current arrangements with relevant standards, expectations or objectives to identify strengths, missing elements and priority actions.
What is a safe system of work?
It is a structured method for completing a task while controlling known risks. We can review working methods and advise on procedures, responsibilities, equipment, training and supervision.
Do you provide fire safety assessments?
Yes. We can review workplace fire safety arrangements and recommend proportionate improvements. The exact scope, including whether a specific statutory assessment is included, is agreed beforehand.
Can you help with event planning?
Yes. We can advise on medical requirements, staffing, emergency arrangements, site access, first aid facilities, communications, escalation procedures and operational risks.
Can you create an event medical plan without providing the cover?
Yes. Event medical planning is available as a standalone service. The organiser can use the plan when arranging provision, subject to any limitations or review requirements stated in it.
Can consultancy be completed remotely?
Some advice and document reviews can be completed remotely when enough information is available. Other assessments require a site visit to understand the environment and controls properly.
What happens during an on-site visit?
We may meet responsible staff, inspect relevant areas, observe activities, review selected documents, discuss incidents and gather evidence for the agreed assessment and report.
Will we receive a written report?
Yes, where a report forms part of the agreed service. It may include findings, identified risks, recommendations, priorities and suggested timescales.
Will the report prioritise actions?
Where appropriate, recommendations are prioritised by urgency and potential risk, helping you separate immediate concerns from longer-term improvements.
Does an assessment guarantee legal compliance?
No consultant can guarantee compliance simply by completing an assessment. We advise within the agreed scope; the organisation remains responsible for implementation, maintenance and specialist advice where needed.
Do you provide legal advice?
No. Our service provides practical safety and operational guidance and is not a substitute for independent legal, regulatory or specialist advice outside our competence.
Can you review policies and procedures?
We may review relevant policies and procedures within an agreed project. The scope, purpose and limitations are confirmed before work begins.
Can you help decide how many first aiders we need?
Yes. A first aid needs assessment can consider appropriate numbers and levels, including shifts, holidays, absence cover, remote areas and foreseeable injuries or illnesses.
Can you inspect first aid equipment?
Yes, where included in the assessment. We can identify obvious gaps, unsuitable locations, expired items or concerns about available provision.
Which industries do you support?
We can support offices, retail, warehousing, construction, manufacturing, hospitality, education, care, community organisations, sports, leisure and events. We accept only work within our competence and resources.
How much does consultancy cost?
Cost depends on the service, site size, number of staff, complexity, travel, time and report requirements. Current prices or a tailored quotation are provided before work begins.
What happens after the report is issued?
You can assign and complete the actions. Follow-up support, reassessment or further advice may be available when agreed.
Can you provide training after an assessment?
Yes. If a genuine training need is identified, we can discuss a suitable regulated course or bespoke session. We only recommend training relevant to the need.