From £95 a month, UK wide
Health and Safety Retainer Services
Most small and medium businesses need ongoing health and safety support but cannot justify a full time safety manager. A retainer gives you the best of both: expert help on tap for a predictable monthly fee, from a consultant who actually knows your business. AL23 Safety provides flexible retainers across the UK, keeping you compliant all year round without the cost of an in house hire.
What is a retainer?
An experienced safety adviser, on call
A health and safety retainer is an ongoing support service that gives you access to professional safety expertise for a fixed regular fee. Instead of paying for one off consultancy every time a question comes up or carrying the cost of a full time professional you may not need, you get consistent, reliable support shaped around your business.
Think of it as an experienced safety adviser on call, someone who understands your operations, knows your risks and can guide you through whatever comes up.
Where a retainer starts, plus VAT. A predictable monthly fee that replaces ad hoc invoices and costs a fraction of an in house safety manager.
One named adviser, all year round
The legal backbone
Your appointed competent person
At the heart of a retainer is the competent person and a retainer is one of the simplest ways to put that duty in place.
Every employer must appoint a competent person
Under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every employer must appoint one or more competent people to help meet their health and safety duties. We act as your appointed competent person and issue the certificate to prove it.
One thing to be clear about: a retainer supports you but the ultimate legal responsibility for health and safety stays with you as the employer.
What it does is make meeting that responsibility far easier and give you a strong record of due diligence if anything ever goes wrong.
Why choose a retainer
The smart way to manage safety well
The estimated cost of workplace injury and ill health to Britain in 2023/24. The businesses that manage safety well are the ones that avoid their share of it and a retainer is how you do that without the cost of an in house team.
Cost effective
A fraction of the cost of a full time safety professional, with none of the recruitment, salary or training overheads.
Predictable budgeting
A fixed regular fee so you know exactly what your compliance costs, with no surprise invoices.
Less admin
We handle the documentation, the legal updates and the audits, freeing you to run your business.
A consultant who knows you
The same adviser who learns your business and your sites, not a call centre with a different voice each time.
Room to grow
Support that scales as your business does and strengthens your hand in tenders and accreditations.
Our retainer packages
Four tiers, each building on the one before
No two businesses need the same level of support so we offer four tiers and shape the right one around you. All prices are from prices, plus VAT.
Essentials
per month · plus VAT
For sole traders and small, lower risk businesses, typically under ten employees, that mainly need expert advice on call.
Speak to us- Appointment as your competent person under Regulation 7, with a certificate
- Unlimited telephone and email advice
- An annual review of your health and safety policy
- Regular updates on changes to the law
- Support with tenders and pre qualification questionnaires
- The right to name AL23 Safety as your health and safety adviser
Core
per month · plus VAT
For established SMEs that want their compliance actively managed, not just advice on tap.
Speak to usEverything in Essentials, plus
- An annual on site audit with a clear action plan
- Risk assessments written and reviewed, including COSHH where relevant
- Health and safety policy and documentation developed, not just reviewed
- Accident and incident investigation, with support on RIDDOR reporting
- A scheduled site visit during the year
Advanced
per month · plus VAT
For larger or higher risk businesses that need regular, proactive support and a stronger compliance record.
Speak to usEverything in Core, plus
- Regular scheduled site visits and inspections through the year
- A fire risk assessment for one site
- Accreditation support, such as CHAS, SafeContractor and Constructionline
- Accident and near miss trend reviews
- Support if you receive an HSE enforcement notice
- In house training and toolbox talks
Strategic
bespoke · per month · plus VAT
For multi site or complex organisations that want a true health and safety partner at leadership level.
Speak to usEverything in Advanced, plus
- A dedicated senior consultant as your named partner
- Cover across multiple sites with one consistent approach
- Full management systems across health and safety, fire and environmental
- A strategic action plan with board or executive engagement
- A safety culture programme
- Flexible consultancy days shaped around your needs
Prefer pay as you go?
If you only need help now and then, you do not have to commit to a retainer. We also work on an ad hoc basis for one off projects or extra support alongside a package.
How it works
A twelve month term, then full flexibility
We would rather you stayed because the service is worth it, not because a contract says so.
- 1
The first year
Retainers run on a minimum twelve month term, which gives us the time to get to know your business and make a real difference.
- 2
After year one
We keep things flexible and shape the package around how your business has changed, scaling the support up or down to match where you are.
Who it is for
A retainer suits
- Small and medium businesses without in house health and safety
- Growing teams where safety is getting harder to manage
- Businesses tendering for work or chasing accreditation
- Organisations that have in house support but need extra capacity
- Anyone who wants expert help on call without a full time hire
Why AL23 Safety
A genuine partner, not a faceless helpline
With us you get a genuine partner, not a faceless helpline. You work with a named, experienced consultant who learns your business, visits your sites and gives you straight answers when it matters, including when an inspector turns up.
Because we cover health and safety, fire safety and environmental compliance, one retainer can look after far more than basic health and safety. We support businesses of every size right across the UK.
Find the right level of support
Tell us about your business and we will recommend a retainer that fits
No jargon and no pressure. You stay in control and we keep you compliant.
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