Case

Study
Debenhams

Nigel Palmer has worked in retail for about 20 years, beginning his career in a junior
management position. He has progressed through the organisation to his current position of
Retail Operations Director, sitting on Debenhams Executive Board.

HSE
DRIVERS FOR LEADERSHIP
Nigel Palmer is personally driven to promote
health and safety throughout the organisation. No. of employees 20,000
This, in part, is a result of his personal
experience having worked his way up from a Business Sector Private
management trainee. He believes, as a
consequence of his operational experience that Business Activities Retail
poor health and safety management impacts
upon profitability. Debenhams is highly visible on Location UK & Worldwide

Leadership in Health & Safety

every major high street, and thus any adverse
publicity would be detrimental to the business.

“I strongly believe that the continued success of the business

depends on providing its employees and customers with a safe and
exciting environment in which to work and shop.”
Nigel Palmer, Retails Operations Director, Debenhams

VALUE OF LEADERSHIP

Nigel is well respected throughout

the organisation, and his visible
actions therefore carry weight with Nigel Palmer
staff

Clear message is sent throughout

the organisation that managing
health and safety is as important as
managing other aspects of the
business

Has instigated various employee

health & safety training programmes

BENEFITS OF LEADERSHIP
“As store Introduction of key performance
managers, we indicators for health and safety
HSE

have a great performance for internal and external

responsibility to reporting
our customers &
staff to ensure we Now assess contractor competency
maintain a safe as part of the procurement
shopping & working environment. To processes
have the visible support & commitment
from Nigel enforces that message. Staff safety considered in equipment
Influence at director level really helps purchases
resolve any issues in stores &
Maintains a very low number of
reinforces the message of how important
accidents given the footfall
health & safety is to the business.”
(customers) through its stores
Kerry Ely, Store Manager, Sheffield
Case
Study

NIGELS’ MESSAGE TO OTHER DIRECTORS IS...

“A business will never be able to achieve the highest standards of health & safety
management without the active involvement of directors. External stakeholders
HSE

viewing the company will observe the lack of direction.”

HOW WERE ARRANGEMENTS WHAT WAS DONE?

DEVELOPED?
Nigel took over responsibility for health &
Following a series of organisational
safety from the Company Secretary as it was
changes, it was decided to raise the
recognised that it would fit better with his
profile of health and safety within the
background in retail and his operational
business by making it the
responsibilities.
responsibility of an Executive Board
member.
He made all Store Managers
Consulted with responsible for health and
employee safety, and incorporated this in
representatives and their performance review.
Leadership in Health & Safety

HSE, and reviewed

Corporate Social
Responsibility DIRECTOR’S ENGAGEMENT
guidance. This Nigel engages other Board
resulted in the members interest by keeping
formation of a Head them informed of health and
Office committee to safety initiatives and
review strategy and improvements.
the likely health and
safety impact in
He takes an active role in
stores.
health and safety management
and a ‘hands on’ role in reviewing individual
CURRENT BOARD
stores health and safety performance. Where
ARRANGEMENTS
performance raises concern, Nigel takes
Nigel, as Director, is responsible for personal interest in establishing the causes.
health and safety on the Executive
Board and manages safety at a Nigel is viewed by many employees as being
strategic level in the company. “well respected and dynamic”.

WHAT DOES THE DIRECTOR DO?

“Nigel’s experience gives a pragmatic and realistic approach to health & safety matters,
and gives the necessary status to the committee’s decisions.”
HSE

Chris Reed, Occupational Health, Safety & Environment Manager, Debenhams

Champions health & safety by Personally reviews individual stores’ health &
engaging with the sales force as safety performance
he ‘walks the stores’

Embracing new technology, he Takes an active role in promoting health &

introduced home working to safety initiatives within the organisation
reduce excessive travel by his
support teams