Delapré Abbey is a Grade II listed building in Northamptonshire, designated as being in the top 8% of heritage sites and listed by Historic England as a registered battlefield. For two years, Cognitious has been providing the Abbey with contract client support in Health & Safety matters, including a ‘Competent Person’ designated to act on behalf of the Abbey Trust in matters pertaining to Health& Safety legislation, compliance, operations and training.
Over time Delapré Abbey has witnessed everything from royal visits, battles and intrigue to technological innovation, world wars and dissolution. Now four years into a comprehensive renovation programme it is a splendid venue for events, weddings, corporate and private hire which offers visitors five interactive storytelling zones. The events programme alone offers a real voyage of discovery, with the current p/m including arts workshops, markets, lectures and celebrations.
In addition to its responsibilities to paying customers and general public alike, Delapré Abbey has 10+ permanent staff, supported by 100 volunteers performing varied tasks as tour guides, front of house volunteers, gardeners, researchers and maintenance workers. Inside this prestigious venue, with its varied and demanding on site events and activities schedule to deliver, the Health & Safety provision requires a special understanding of client needs.
Cognitious is an Ashridge Group company, specialists in facilities management and providing security consultancy, with a commitment to deliver ’safety through knowledge’. Cognitious initially provided security consultancy on behalf of stakeholders to identify potential risk and explore holistic options so that Delapré Abbey could maintain a safe and secure environment, both operationally and during quiet hours. Once a scope of work was agreed, a security survey was undertaken and a full report provided, a fuller security strategy was then submitted and subsequently a technical document with a summary of technical solutions that could be delivered.
With its own unique client ‘character’ and demands, the Abbey at first needed help and guidance through procedures involved in leasehold occupancy of the Abbey and its land. This was accompanied by a detailed consultancy process which included education and understanding of the legal requirements involved in the setting up of the Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust, with particular reference to its role in the transition across to leaseholder status for the premises. This involved considerable work with the incumbent holder, the local authority. The Cognitious team were also able to write and compile a full Health & Safety Policy which was enshrined in a formal procedures manual. This ran to some 150 pages and was made available in both digital and hard copy format. This was then supplemented with familiarisation training for DAPT.
A number of specific elements were covered by the team’s work, including product training (in individual and specialist operational matters, for example ladder safety), legal policy familiarisation, general risk assessments and plans, a disaster recovery plan and any specialist matters relevant to heritage sites. In establishing this robust and practical Health & Safety regime, there was an extensive consultative process, engaging with various stakeholder groups such as Directors, Trust and Board members, volunteers and the representative of the Local Authority.
Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust Director Rachael Boyd says that approaching two years into the relationship, it’s the word ‘confidence’ that most succinctly sums up the current position. She reports that the Abbey is doing well, with healthy visitor numbers and many people enjoying the public event programme.
“With the huge variety of events held here and the unique nature of the site, our concerns for the wellbeing of our staff and our visitors were soon allayed. Health & Safety matters are absolutely crucial to our reputation and our future. For myself and other members of the board, it’s the confidence of knowing that our ‘Competent Person’ is just that.
For example, when we held a Halloween event with specialised equipment we asked Cognitious to review our detailed risk assessment. With some operating templates established this was then supported with continuous communication and conference calls. When we go into an event, we want to concentrate on providing our customers with the best experience possible. Not having to worry about the integrity of our Health & Safety regime is such a reassurance. For us competence means confidence.”