The NEBOSH Diploma is one of the most widely respected qualifications in health and safety, and is relevant across a wide range of industries. We spoke to ACT learner Adam Thorpe about how he achieved his NEBOSH Diploma via our classroom course, and how he was able to learn from past experience when it came to taking the assessments.
What made you choose to purse the NEBOSH Diploma?
I went for the NEBOSH Diploma after completing my General Certificate with ACT. My tutor, Geoff, was so passionate about H&S that it rubbed off on me. I wanted to take on the challenge, push myself, and saw it as a great experience to grow my knowledge and skills.
What is your current job role and what does it involve?
I’m a Learning and Development supervisor for a manufacturing company. My role covers designing and delivering training programmes, managing compliance, and supporting managers to keep teams competent and safe. I also lead projects that bring training in-house to save costs, build strong links with external partners, and create tools and systems that are easier for people to take ownership of their training.
What aspect of the classroom course did you find the most beneficial?
For me, the most beneficial part was the group discussions influenced by the syllabus. Hearing about challenges and solutions from other businesses and sectors I hadn’t experienced before really opened my eyes. It helped me see problems from different perspectives, and I’ve been able to adapt some of those ideas to my own workplace and put them into practice.
You’ve also completed the NEBOSH General Certificate with ACT – how did completing this qualification inform how you approached your Diploma studies?
Completing the NEBOSH General Certificate with ACT gave me a foundation to build on, but it also taught me how NEBOSH structures its courses and assessments. That experience meant I went into the Diploma already aware of some study methods, exam techniques, and how to possibly apply them. It made the jump a bit smoother, a little less daunting.
How did you approach your assessments, and did your approach change at all as you took each assessment?
Yes, 100%. I started a little chaotic with my first exam, DN2. I basically brain dumped everything I knew, ran out of time, and it wasn’t as structured as I’d have liked. After that, I built my guidance library in a way that suited my style and included the elements I needed based on each exam element.
By my second exam, ND1, I was much calmer. I attacked the scenario paper first because I was familiar with the format.
My third and final assessment, ND3, was partly about COSHH something I work with regularly, so I went into it with strong practical knowledge.
Sometimes you get a topic you already know a lot about from experience, but equally there are areas where you need to research to find the right answers, which I actually found really good fun. I approached this one far more strategically, followed the PEER format, and made sure it was presented in a way I would want to see if I were marking it. I felt confident, calm, and much happier.
What were some of the challenges you faced in your studies?
One of the biggest challenges was balancing study time with work and personal commitments, especially when deadlines were approaching. Early on, I also found it difficult to structure my answers with time pressures, which led me to try different approaches. Another challenge was adapting to areas I had less experience in. While some topics, like COSHH, Confined spaces, working at height, Asbestos were more familiar, others required a lot of research to understand. Learning to switch between existing knowledge and new and then applying that into a structure that was concise, readable and correct was a challenge at first, but it ultimately made me a stronger learner.
What advice would you give others considering starting their Diploma?
Go for it! I really enjoyed the experience, and it’s completely changed how I look at things, even outside of work. I’ve been able to advise family, friends, and colleagues on all sorts of matters. The confidence to know where to look, how to read the information, and how to interpret what’s written is like an amazing superpower. It’s not just about passing the qualification it’s about gaining skills and ways of thinking that you’ll use for the rest of your life.
Do you have any final thoughts to share on your journey?
I saw this opportunity as a way to prove to myself that I could achieve something many thought I couldn’t. Along the way, I met some truly great people and learned so much. I think it’s important to share that even if you doubt yourself or others doubt you don’t listen. Go for it. I did, and the feeling afterwards was incredible. This journey has given me the ability to pass on knowledge, help others, and hopefully make a real difference. Knowledge is power and in health and safety, it’s the power to prevent harm and maybe even save someone’s life.
Invest in your career with the NEBOSH Diploma
The NEBOSH Diploma is an advanced qualification equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, and can be used as an entryway to selected Postgraduate and Master’s degrees. This makes it the ideal choice for those looking to build a long-term career as a health and safety professional. The NEBOSH Diploma is comprised of three units, that must be completed within a five year window to obtain the full diploma:
Unit DN1: Know – workplace health and safety principles.
Unit DN2: Do – controlling workplace health issues.
Unit DN3: Do – controlling workplace safety issues.
At ACT, we offer classroom and blended learning options, with the freedom to study at your own pace, complete the units in any order, and with flexible payment terms available.
Visit NEBOSH’s website to find out more about entry requirements for the NEBOSH Diploma
Study for your NEBOSH Diploma with ACT.
