Annabel Easton, is a Health and Safety Graduate- SHE Apprentice for North East Lincolnshire Council. Annabel's role included liaising with colleagues, leaders and stakeholders to advise on precautionary measures, completing building assessments for Covid compliance, supporting colleagues and professionals in other organisations, keeping up to date on covid restrictions and updating risk assessments as required.

Annabel began as a graduate in the Health and Safety team and enrolled onto the SHE apprenticeship, six months in we went into a full lockdown and she stepped in and stepped up to learn quickly and help in any way possible. Ensuring she listened to others, learnt, researched and engaged with people, building up a rapport with colleagues and developing quickly. Annabel met with 'responsible people' at buildings to carry out building assessments and implement safety measures, ensuring these complied with legal requirements, communicating to employees throughout. She led on a project for safe return to the offices for staff- putting measures in place.

As Annabel joined NELC she joined an experienced health and safety team, shadowing colleagues, enrolling on the SHE apprenticeship and completing the NEBOSH. 6 months into her 2 years fixed term contract she was in a team at the forefront of support for the organisation in a situation no one anticipated- a pandemic. She immediately stepped up showing aptitude and commitment to learn, develop and be a vital member of the team. Annabel became involved in staff development sessions to develop colleagues to support on building assessments and went out with colleagues to lead and ensure these were carried out correctly and staff understood the restrictions in place. She shadowed colleagues carrying out risk assessments and adapted to a changing way to working showing resilience and responded to a fast pace and ever changing landscape in her role.

The organisation looked to health and safety for advice and guidance and Annabel stepped up to this challenge, maintaining her development through her qualification and researching to ensure she gave accurate information. She led on a project in her first year for reintroduction of staff to the office environment, planning, prioritising and engaging leadership to communicate to the organisation and ensure compliance. Annabel put safety measures in place and reviewed trial days feeding back to others for planning next steps. She has attended virtual skills events to encourage and engage local young people into public sector careers and actively mentors for a local higher education establishment.

Annabel is now coming towards the end of the fixed term contract and will be remaining with the organisation, proving herself to be a vital member of the team. As she completed her SHE apprenticeship she will have learnt a lot to apply to her role and continue to develop and face the challenges that come her way.