Meet Brian Skerritt!

We are delighted to welcome Brian Skerritt as our new Health and Safety Manager, who joins us from Asset Disposal. Brian is a highly skilled health, safety, environment, and compliance practitioner with a proven track record and 23 years of successful experience in the British Forces.

Before Christmas, we spent 5 minutes with Brian, our recently appointed health and safety manager. We spent time learning about his experiences, how he helped Ariana Grande in the Manchester bombing, his love for mountaineering, and what a typical day looks like in health and safety.

Tell us how or why you fell into the wild world of H&S.

I spent 23 years in the Army, achieving a troop sergeant major. In 2010, I was responsible for an operational readiness troop to deploy globally at any time. Following the Army, I worked in various jobs that involved private security, offshore fleet safety, and risk training, and then Head of Safety and Security at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate Hotel, followed by the event industry at the Manchester Central Convention Complex, and finally Asset Disposal, who provided date sanitisation and security services.

The skills I acquired in my previous roles are highly transferable to the field of health and safety. Showcasing a seamless integration of discipline, leadership, and adaptability. The British forces are extensively trained in risk and crisis management and emergency response, which, within my role, directly aligns with the core principles of health and safety. I have the ability to remain calm under pressure and work closely towards deadlines, which is why I fell into the wild world of health and safety.

What has been the biggest highlight of your career to date, and why?

Not one single highlight stands out; there have been a few. Performing risk management for many prestigious events, businesspeople, and celebrities have all been highlights of my career, where effective risk management is paramount as the stakes are high and the spotlight is intense. I suppose one highlight would be receiving a commendation, which is a significant and formal expression of approval and praise given upon an individual's achievements from the Hilton (who I was working for at the time) for looking after Ariana Grande the night of the Manchester Arena attack in 2017 and extracting her safely back to the US!!

If you could work for anyone, who would it be and why?

Sir Ranulph Fiennes would be my choice, who served in the Army and undertook numerous expeditions. He is an incredible explorer, motivator, and leader with unquestionable determination. As I am into mountaineering, he is a real hero of mine and someone that I would work for.

Describe a typical day at H&S.

No two days are ever the same, with audits to complete, training courses to deliver, accidents to investigate, and, of course, help, advice, and guidance to the business as a whole and individual branches. It’s a busy time for the safety team as the business drives H&S forward in 2024. We all want a safe working environment, so I am committed to working together to create one, as the role demands a proactive approach, adaptability, and a keen eye for detail to maintain a secure and healthy environment for all!

What is something about you that we don’t know and would surprise us?

I have spent a total of 6 years of my life in Norway, training in the winter months from January to March during my military days, learning about mountaineering and arctic warfare. This made me a competent skier and got me into mountaineering. Off the back of this, I have submitted some serious high-altitude peaks in my time. I am looking to do the highest mountain in Europe, Mont Blanc, this year at 15,777ft. When not at high altitudes, I like the good old, smaller hills of the peak and lake districts. That is when I’m not in tears watching Manchester United, as I have been lately. I also love working at home and doing DIY!!! And of course, family time, which is important to us all, is spending time with our loved ones.

Thanks for your time, Brian. Good luck in your new role.

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