One-day governance-specific safety course for directors and board members — covers Section 37 HSWA, Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007 and Sentencing Guidelines. Public virtual classroom from £208 + VAT per delegate, or in-company on-site or virtual for your board.
At a glance
2 learning options
Pick the format that fits the size of your training need. Public virtual cohort for individual directors or small leadership teams; in-company on-site or virtual for whole boards.
Public cohort
£208.00 + VAT per delegate
Live tutor-led session over Microsoft Teams. Mixed-organisation cohort — train alongside other directors from across the UK. Same syllabus, same IOSH-approved trainer, same digital certificate.
UK-wide. Live virtual delivery.
Closed cohort
POA price on application
Closed cohort just for your board. Run on-site at your boardroom (we come to you), or as a closed virtual classroom over Microsoft Teams. Sector-specific case studies built around your governance context.
UK-wide on-site delivery. Virtual classroom anywhere.
Quick answer
IOSH Safety for Executives and Directors is a one-day IOSH-approved governance-specific safety course for directors, executives and board members. Awarded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, it covers director-specific legal, moral and financial responsibilities under UK law — including Section 37 HSWA, Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 and Sentencing Guidelines — and is assessed by a personal action plan with up to three written commitments.
Is it the right fit?
IOSH Safety for Executives and Directors is the right qualification when you carry statutory safety responsibility at director level — not when you need a refresh of operational management or broader leadership content. Here’s the line.
What every director can do
By the end of the day you have a clear understanding of your statutory director duties, a board-language framing for safety performance, and up to three written action-plan commitments tied to your governance context.
Understand director responsibility
Understand director-specific obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (Section 37), the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, and the Sentencing Council’s H&S Sentencing Guidelines.
Translate health and safety into productivity, profit, brand reputation, insurance and D&O exposure language — the language your board already speaks.
Identify the actions and inactions that expose directors personally to prosecution, fines and disqualification. Know what HSE inspectors look for when assessing director-level commitment.
Lead change at board level
Build a safety and health policy that integrates with your existing business strategy. Set the direction your line managers will operationalise.
Set the right KPIs at board level — lagging vs leading indicators, what to ask for, what to ignore. The board-pack metrics that matter.
Walk out with up to three written commitments you’ll deliver at the next board meeting. Specific actions tied to your governance context.
Syllabus
The syllabus has 5 IOSH-set modules covering director responsibility, top-management safety integration, planning, implementation and monitoring. The structure is set by IOSH and identical across every approved provider — what differs is the trainer, the worked examples and the case studies brought into the room.
Directors’ responsibilities, liabilities and accountabilities under UK law. HSWA, Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007, Section 37 specifics. Why this matters financially as well as legally.
Why safety integrates with other top-management objectives. How to minimise risk, reduce losses, make better use of time and resources from the board down.
Developing and implementing a safety and health policy. Integrating it into business systems so it’s not a separate stream.
What good implementation looks like at director level. Allocating resources, setting expectations, delegating without abdicating.
Measuring safety performance. Reviewing what’s working. Acting on lessons. Continuous improvement from the board.
Comparisons
Two comparisons buyers raise most often: SED versus IOSH Leading Safely (the broader leadership course), and SED versus IOSH Managing Safely (the line-manager course).
Audience
Directors + named board members with statutory safety responsibility.
Focus
Director liability + corporate governance.
Specifically covers
Section 37 HSWA, Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007, Sentencing Guidelines.
Best for
Boards needing governance-specific exposure.
Audience
Senior leaders generally — not all of whom carry director-level liability.
Focus
Strategy, culture, leadership behaviours.
Specifically covers
Plan-Do-Check-Act at leadership level, action planning.
Best for
Senior leaders setting safety culture from the top.
How most boards mix it: Leading Safely first (broader scope), then SED for governance-specific exposure.
Audience
Directors, executives, board members.
Focus
Strategic governance + director liability.
Duration
1 day.
Best for
Setting safety strategy from the board.
Audience
Line managers, supervisors.
Focus
Operational risk management.
Duration
3 days.
Best for
Day-to-day line management.
Rule of thumb: Sit on the board with statutory safety responsibility → SED. Run a team operationally → Managing Safely.
Governance contexts
IOSH Safety for Executives and Directors is booked by named directors and boards who need documented evidence of director-level safety commitment. The course addresses Section 37 HSWA, Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007 and Sentencing Guidelines — the statutory and regulatory frameworks that hold directors personally accountable for safety failures.
Governance triggers above reflect what our clients actually book against. SED is increasingly cited in D&O insurance underwriting questionnaires, ISO 45001 leadership-commitment evidence packs, and HSE post-incident reviews.
Assessment
One combined assessment at the end of the 1-day course. Marked by IOSH-approved markers. Most delegates finish well inside the 30-minute slot.
Five modules covered through tutor-led discussion and worked board scenarios. Tutor walks delegates through current UK case law, HSE enforcement trends, and director-liability precedents. Around 5 hours of guided content.
Up to 3 written commitments tied to your governance context. Submitted to IOSH for verification. Digital certificate issued via the IOSH portal once submitted — no 4-6 week wait.
Digital certificate is available on the IOSH portal once your action plan is submitted. KeyOstas handles IOSH registration on every director’s behalf. The personal action plan stays with each director to revisit at 30, 60, 90-day milestones; KeyOstas offers an optional follow-up review session at 90 days.
Training and support
Every KeyOstas IOSH trainer holds current IOSH membership, has direct UK industry experience (most are former safety leads in construction, manufacturing, FM or logistics), and is independently audited as part of our IOSH-approved provider status.
The IOSH paper is straightforward when delegates have engaged with the material — but exam technique still matters at this level. We walk delegates through worked board scenarios and current UK case law before the action-plan piece — directors come prepared.
Two delivery formats, both closed to your team, same syllabus and same IOSH certificate. On-site: our trainer comes to your premises with everything needed. Virtual: a live virtual classroom over Microsoft Teams or your preferred platform.
The IOSH Safety for Executives and Directors digital certificate has no formal expiry date. IOSH recommends a refresh every 3 years — KeyOstas can run repeat cohorts on the same site for new starters or refresher groups.
KeyOstas IOSH SED sessions are led by IOSH-approved tutors with 10+ years of UK board-level delivery experience — trainers who have worked with directors and boards across construction, manufacturing, healthcare, FM, logistics and public-sector contexts. Each is independently audited as part of our IOSH-approved provider status. On-site name and bio confirmed when you book.
The numbers
KeyOstas is a UK-based IOSH-approved training provider, trading continuously since 1984 and a longstanding NEBOSH learning partner, with three classroom training centres in the UK and in-company delivery anywhere across the United Kingdom.
40+ years
Delivering IOSH-approved and NEBOSH-accredited health and safety training across the UK since 1984. One of the longest-standing safety training providers in the country.
100%
Completion rate on KeyOstas IOSH courses. Every director walks out with the IOSH digital certificate and a personal action plan they can take to the next board meeting.(KeyOstas internal records, 2024–25.)
200K+
Organisations globally use IOSH training to build safety and environmental competence.(Source: IOSH 2025 annual data — global IOSH-approved training reach.)
The training received was some of the best Health & Safety training I have experienced in my 20 years of working in Health & Safety. KeyOstas are always happy to help and work out solutions for us.
— Alan Harte, Google review
Why KeyOstas
There are 2,000+ IOSH-approved providers worldwide. Five reasons KeyOstas is one of the longest-standing in the UK.
01
KeyOstas holds full IOSH-approved provider status. Our trainers, materials and assessment processes are independently audited by IOSH each year. Not every provider holds that status — some run unaccredited “IOSH-style” courses without the official certificate.
02
We offer both formats so you can pick the right one for individual directors vs whole-board training. Public cohort for solo bookings at £208 + VAT; in-company for boards of 4+ at POA. The course is jargon-light, scenario-heavy, and runs in one day with everyone certified at the end of it.
03
A 100% first-time pass rate across our IOSH courses. We walk directors through current UK case law, HSE enforcement trends, and Sentencing Guidelines precedents — directors come prepared and engaged.
04
One named contact for booking, joining instructions, site access, reasonable adjustments and IOSH registration. We come to you — either on-site or as a closed virtual classroom — no co-ordinating a coach to a training centre, no Microsoft Teams accounts for the warehouse team.
05
Tutor on the end of the phone after the course. Repeat cohorts on the same site for new starters. Pathway signposting if a delegate wants to broaden into IOSH Leading Safely (5-hour leadership scope) or refresh the line-management team with IOSH Managing Safely.
UK regional coverage
In-company at your site, UK-wide. Most weeks we have trainers in the regions below. Our head office is in Southam, Warwickshire (CV47 0FS) — Midlands and Home Counties delivery typically incurs no trainer travel. Further sites add a modest travel and accommodation contribution to the quote.
Midlands
Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Wolverhampton, Stoke. Head office: Southam, Warwickshire.
London & SE
Greater London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Essex, Berkshire.
North West
Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Lancaster, Chester, Cumbria.
Yorks & NE
Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, York, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Hull.
South West
Bristol, Bath, Plymouth, Exeter, Swindon, Gloucester.
Wales
Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham, plus North and Mid Wales on application.
Scotland
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness on application.
N. Ireland
Belfast and surrounding industrial centres, plus mainland UK travel as needed.
We deliver across construction, manufacturing, food and drink, logistics and warehousing, facilities management, retail, hospitality, healthcare, education, public sector and utilities.
If your site can’t host the training, we can advise on local hotel meeting rooms or community spaces near your team. Get in touch with delegate numbers and your site postcode for a tailored quote.
How to book
Three steps to book IOSH Safety for Executives and Directors — for an individual director or your whole board.
Send the enquiry form with delegate numbers, your site postcode, and your preferred week.
Tailored to your sector, group size and travel. Includes IOSH registration and certificates.
One day on site or live virtual classroom, full course delivered, assessments marked, IOSH-issued certificates sent within 4–6 weeks.
FAQs
The questions directors, PAs and HR teams ask most often about prerequisites, assessment, pricing, public vs in-company, and how SED compares to other IOSH courses.
IOSH Safety for Executives and Directors is a one-day IOSH-approved governance-specific safety course for directors, executives and board members. Awarded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, it covers director-specific legal, moral and financial responsibilities under UK law — including Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, and the Sentencing Guidelines for H&S offences. Assessed by personal action plan with up to three written commitments; digital IOSH certificate issued via the IOSH portal once submitted.
Operational directors, senior executives, owner-directors of small businesses, and board members with statutory safety responsibility. It is not aimed at line managers (that is IOSH Managing Safely, 3 days, Level 2) or front-line workers (that is IOSH Working Safely, 1 day, Level 1). Senior leaders without specific director-liability exposure typically book IOSH Leading Safely instead.
One day classroom or 6-8 hours online. KeyOstas delivers it as a public virtual classroom or in-company at your boardroom (on-site) or as a closed virtual classroom for your board.
Personal action plan with up to 3 written commitments. Each delegate writes up to three specific actions they commit to taking in their workplace, appropriate to their level of responsibility. Completion-based — no traditional pass/fail exam. Digital IOSH certificate available via the IOSH portal once your action plan is submitted.
No formal entry requirements. Learners benefit most when they currently hold a director, executive or senior leadership role with safety responsibility.
Public virtual classroom: £208 + VAT per delegate. In-company on-site or virtual: price on application, based on delegate numbers, your site postcode and any travel. All prices include IOSH registration, the action plan submission and the digital certificate.
IOSH-issued certificates do not formally expire. IOSH recommends a refresh every 3 years to stay current with regulatory changes — particularly around case law in Section 37 and Corporate Manslaughter Act prosecutions.
Yes — public virtual classroom from £208 + VAT per delegate (mixed-organisation tutor-led cohort over Microsoft Teams), or in-company at your premises (on-site or as a closed virtual classroom for your board).
SED is more governance-specific, with greater focus on director-level legal liability and corporate governance. IOSH Leading Safely (5 hours) has a broader leadership scope — strategy, culture, action planning. Many boards do Leading Safely first for broader leadership scope, then SED for governance-specific exposure. Talk to us about combined programmes.
Different audiences. SED is for directors and named board members focused on top-level governance. IOSH Managing Safely (3 days, Level 2) is for line managers and supervisors with day-to-day operational H&S responsibility. If you sit on the board or own statutory safety responsibility, you want SED. If you run a team operationally, you want Managing Safely.
Some providers offer e-learning SED options at lower price points. KeyOstas runs only tutor-led delivery — public virtual classroom or in-company — because we believe the value of director-level safety training is in the discussion, current case-law walk-throughs, and action-plan coaching that an interactive session provides. Self-paced e-learning can leave directors with certificates but no embedded change.
Up to 12 delegates per session with no formal minimum. Boards typically fall well within this. For very large senior cohorts we run consecutive sessions to keep the discussion quality high.
Every director walks out with their digital IOSH certificate (issued via the IOSH portal once the action plan is submitted) and a personal action plan with up to three concrete commitments. KeyOstas can run an optional follow-up review session at 90 days to revisit action-plan progress with the board. Talk to us about that as part of your quote.
Ready when you are
One day. Public virtual classroom (£208 + VAT) or in-company at your boardroom. Every director IOSH-certified at the end of it. IOSH-approved trainers with real UK board-level delivery experience. 100% completion rate on KeyOstas IOSH courses.
Make an enquiry →Or talk to a tutor: 0330 056 9534
This page is checked annually against the current IOSH Safety for Executives and Directors fact sheet and assessment specification published at iosh.com.
Last reviewed: May 2026 — checked against the current IOSH Safety for Executives and Directors fact sheet and pricing for current courses.
