A new health and safety business in Bristol has benefitted from its own expertise during the expansion of its headquarters.
BNS Health and Safety, an offshoot of BNS Property Management, is overseeing the refurbishment of its offices in Downend as it prepares to add to its growing team.
Set up by BNS Property Management owners Andrew and Ian Simmonds and led by health and safety expert Maxine Matthews, BNS Health and Safety will offer consultancy and training not only to BNS managed blocks but to businesses, schools and organisations across the South West. 
As well as the health and safety business it also operates BNS Retirement Living.
Maxine, pictured, said: “It’s a really exciting time for us at BNS at the moment, not only are we launching the Health and Safety division as a business in its own right we are also expanding our offices and adding to our team.
“It has been brilliant to be able to oversee our own project as one of the first things we do. We put together risk assessments and COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations) as well as giving the maintenance team refresher training in working at height and manual handling.
“Not only has the BNS Health and Safety team been managing the H&S practises of the build, around 90% of the work carried out has been done by our own maintenance team.
“BNS Health and Safety will offer training and consultancy services across the South West for various clients.”
One of the firm’s first clients is a local private school. It has also joined the British Safety Council and is processing a CHAS (contractors’ health and safety assessment) accreditation at the moment. It also recruiting for a health and safety advisor position and plans to further grow the team within the next year.
Andrew Simmonds added: “It has been great to be able to utilise our skilled workforce on this project rather than outsourcing. We’re very pleased with progress so far and are delighted to be expanding the company with BNS Health and Safety and BNS Retirement Living.”
