Retained Competent Person
Your Expert. Your Partner. On Hand When It Matters.
Ongoing health and safety support that keeps your organisation compliant, confident, and protected — without the cost of a full-time appointment.
What We Do
Every organisation that employs people has a legal duty to access competent health and safety advice. Under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, that means having someone with the right knowledge, skills, and experience to help you meet your legal obligations.
For many businesses, appointing a full-time, in-house H&S professional isn't practical or cost-effective. That's where a Retained Competent Person comes in — giving you direct access to senior-level expertise, exactly when you need it, at a fraction of the cost.
At Harlequins, we don't just fulfil a legal checkbox. We become a genuine part of your organisation — learning your business, understanding your risks, and giving you advice that's grounded in your reality, not just the textbook.
Why it matters
Without access to competent H&S advice, organisations face very real consequences:
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Regulatory enforcement action from the HSE or local authority
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Personal liability for directors and senior managers
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Increased risk of incidents, injuries, and fatalities
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Difficulty demonstrating due diligence in the event of an investigation
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Reputational damage that can take years to recover from
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The question isn't whether you can afford competent H&S support. It's whether you can afford not to have it.
What you'll get
Our retained service is flexible and tailored - no two clients look the same, and your package will be built around what your organisation actually needs. Typically this includes:
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A named, senior H&S professional as your designated competent person
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Ongoing telephone, email, and video support for day-to-day queries
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Regular site visits and scheduled review meetings
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Proactive monitoring of legislative and regulatory changes affecting your business
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Review and development of your policies, risk assessments, and documentation
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Support with incident management, investigations, and RIDDOR reporting
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Preparation and support for HSE, CQC, or local authority inspections
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Monthly or quarterly management reporting to keep your leadership team informed
Our approach
We start every retained relationship with a thorough initial review of your current H&S arrangements - understanding what's in place, what's missing, and where the priority risks sit. From there, we agree a support plan that reflects your size, sector, and risk profile.
We don't operate from a script. If something changes in your business or your regulatory environment, we're responsive and adaptable. And because we work with a deliberately manageable number of clients, you'll always speak to us — not a call handler.
Additional Support
Our retained clients also have access to discounted rates across our full service range, including:
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Health and safety audits and site inspections
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Staff training and development programmes
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Fire risk assessments and fire safety compliance
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Incident investigations and root cause analysis
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Workplace wellbeing and psychological risk support
