NEWS
PETREL SHORTLISTED FOR INVESTMENT AWARD AT WEST MIDLANDS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2026
Birmingham-based specialist in hazardous area lighting Petrel has been shortlisted in the Investment category at the West Midlands Business of the Year Awards 2026.
After a rigorous judging process, Petrel’s submission was shortlisted down to a group of three, recognising the significant investment that has strengthened business performance, innovation and regional impact of the award nominees.
Founded in the 1930s and operating under the Petrel brand since 1984, Petrel is a British manufacturer of ATEX, UKCA and IECEx-certified lighting solutions for hazardous and industrial environments. The company delivers end-to-end design, engineering, testing and production for safety-critical sectors such as renewables, chemical processing, distilleries, manufacturing and heavy industry.
Commenting on the shortlist, Mark Pemberton, Petrel’s Managing Director said: “We’re incredibly proud to be recognised alongside such respected organisations and to represent the strength of advanced manufacturing in the West Midlands.”
EXPERT COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE FUTURE OF OSH SKILLS
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), in partnership with Speedy Hire, is bringing together experts and industry leaders to strengthen skills critical to occupational safety and health (OSH) in the UK.
The initiative is designed to provide insight and solutions to help OSH professionals tackle a range of challenges threatening workplace safety, including widening skills gaps, the loss of experienced professionals, and mounting pressures on remaining staff. These issues are being further compounded by difficulties attracting and retaining talent combined with demands associated with changing working conditions and technology.
Launched at a prestigious event at the House of Lords by Head Commissioner and RoSPA Vice President Baroness Crawley of Edgbaston, the OSH Skills Commission will consist of five roundtables of experts addressing a key topic for OSH outcomes, all chaired by distinguished leaders in their field.
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These discussions and findings will then be compiled into a report containing strategic recommendations for government and industry to support future-proof skills development and workforce resilience
The five topics and commissioners:
• Recruitment of competent people – Claudia Jaksh, CEO, Policy Connect
• Retention of competent people – Rick Bate, President, Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH)
• Consultation and worker representation – Luke Collins, National Health & Safety Officer, Unite the Union
• Wellbeing, culture & psychological safety – Nick Pahl, CEO, Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM)
• Technology in OSH – Kate Field, Global Head of People and Social Sustainability, British Standards Institute (BSI)
The OSH Skills Commission comes at a pivotal moment, as Skills England
and a new post-16 skills strategy are identifying priority work areas. These developments present a timely opportunity for RoSPA to lead the national conversation and help shape the future of skills development, ensuring professionals are competent and can meet evolving safety needs across sectors.
Speaking at the launch, Baroness Crawley said: “This Commission is born out of difficult circumstances. Our nation faces a growing occupational safety and health skills shortage that is impacting productivity and putting people in danger.
“Our goal is to influence policy through stakeholder engagement and drive informed changed to improve skills and competencies in this country, once more positioning the UK as a world leader in health and safety. Together, we have an opportunity to future-proof OSH skills, support national productivity, and build a safe, stronger workforce.”
www.rospa.com/safety- campaigns/osh-skills-commission
WWW.TOMORROWSHS.COM
The nomination follows a major period of investment after Petrel became part of Pioneer Safety Group (PSG) in early 2024. Phase one of a multi-stage investment programme has included refurbishment of its Birmingham site, upgrades to IT and supply chain infrastructure, expansion of research and development and testing capability. Investment at Petrel has extended beyond infrastructure and systems to its people, with enhanced benefits, wellbeing initiatives and clear progression opportunities reinforcing its commitment to
being a responsible and supportive employer. These improvements have enhanced productivity, reduced lead times and positioned the business for sustainable growth in both UK and international markets.
Petrel hopes the investment category win will recognise not only the scale of this transformation, but the impact it has had on British manufacturing, innovation in hazardous area lighting and its role as a strong regional employer in the West Midlands.
www.petrel-ex.co.uk
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