Engineered for Safety: Mindset as the foundation of Health and Safety excellence

That’s exactly what comes through when speaking with Rena Forrester, SHEQ Advisor at Actemium Birmingham – a business which specialises in electrical contracting, data and network solutions across the UK. For Rena, health and safety isn’t something you apply as an after-thought – it is the start and the finish of every project.

Rena, health and safety is central to your role. How would you describe Actemium’s philosophy in this area?

You would expect me to say this of course, but safety is our number one priority – whether that’s on site with our clients, within our own teams, or across the wider Actemium and VINCI Energies network. It’s not just a policy sitting in a folder on the shelf; it’s a genuinely embedded culture where every individual matters.

What I’m really proud of is that in our business everyone is empowered to speak up. Yes, I’m a SHEQ Advisor, but any one of our employees has the authority to say “STOP” if something doesn’t feel right. That shared responsibility is so important for us, where site conditions can change in an instant.

What is more we reinforce this culture every year through a global safety week across VINCI Energies. For us this is a chance to refresh and strengthen that message together. Whether someone joined last month or has been with us for years, the goal is always the same: follow safe, proven ways of working, deliver the job to the highest standard, and get home safely to your family at the end of the day.

Actemium Birmingham has a strong safety record. What’s behind that?

Honestly, it comes down to culture. We have a team that’s open, engaged, and genuinely willing to share observations and learn from each other – and that’s where the real continuous improvement happens.

Management makes a huge difference too. Health and safety here isn’t treated as a tick-box exercise; it’s actively prioritised and supported at every level. Any initiative that helps us do better gets backed.

But what really sets us apart is the relationships within the team. There’s a genuine commitment to looking out for one another. That ethos carries through to how we work with our clients too. I regularly visit sites and speak directly with their H&S teams to make sure we’re not just meeting their expectations but exceeding them. That’s how trust with the client gets built over time.

What are the biggest health and safety challenges your teams face on site?

Our engineers are highly trained – we invest heavily in that from day one. They hold industry-recognised qualifications and benefit from strong technical foundations through our memberships with organisations like the Joint Industry Board and the Electrical Contractors’ Association.

The trickier challenge is working across so many different client sites. Every customer has their own specific requirements – from PPE standards to site access procedures – and these can vary quite significantly.

Our job is to make sure we fully understand and comply with those requirements every single time. It takes adaptability, and it can be complex – but it’s also one of our real strengths. Clients tell us they value that flexibility, because it means they can trust us to deliver every day, whatever the environment.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Seeing the results on site – without a doubt. When I’m carrying out a live audit and I see our teams working safely, wearing the right PPE, presenting themselves professionally, following the correct procedures – that’s genuinely immensely rewarding.

Clients notice it too. We regularly get comments about the professionalism and consistency of our teams, and that feedback means a lot. It reflects the effort everyone puts in, day after day.

We’ve also picked up multiple client health and safety awards over the years, which is a fantastic achievement. But honestly, for me, the real success is simpler than that – knowing our people are working safely, looking out for each other, and delivering great outcomes. That’s what doing things right actually looks like.

Want to pursue a career in a business that considers Health and Safety their top priority? Visit our Career’s Portal to see our current opportunities.