Frequently asked questions

This FAQ section provides clear, practical answers to common questions around health and safety, compliance, risk management and sustainability. Whether you are unsure about your legal duties, need support with risk management, or want to improve your business’s environmental performance, this page is designed to give straightforward guidance to help you move forward with confidence.

We support businesses across Stourbridge, Dudley, Halesowen, Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, as well as Chester, Wilmslow & Alderley Edge, Nantwich, Crewe and surrounding areas of Cheshire.

General services

  • We provide practical support to businesses across the West Midlands in health and safety, fire safety, risk management, statutory compliance, and project support. Our focus is on helping organisations meet their legal duties while keeping systems simple, effective and proportionate to their size and risk.

  • We support a wide range of organisations including small and medium-sized businesses, schools, retail, offices, landlords, and contractors. Our approach is tailored to the specific risks and operational needs of each client.

  • We work with businesses across the West Midlands and Cheshire , including Stourbridge, Dudley, Halesowen, Birmingham, Chester, Wilmslow & Alderley Edge, Nantwich, Crewe and surrounding areas. We can also support clients further afield depending on the scope of work.

Legal & Compliance

  • If you employ staff, you have legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to manage risks and protect employees and others affected by your activities. While you may not need a full-time advisor, most businesses benefit from competent external support to ensure compliance.

  • Yes. If you employ five or more people, you are legally required to have a written health and safety policy. Even with fewer employees, having one is considered best practice and demonstrates a structured approach to managing risk

  • Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all non-domestic premises must have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. This must be regularly reviewed and kept up to date.

  • Risk assessments should be reviewed regularly and whenever there are significant changes such as new processes, equipment, staff, or incidents. As a guide, many businesses review them annually, but higher-risk environments may require more frequent reviews.

  • A competent person is someone with the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and training to properly manage health and safety. Many businesses appoint an external consultant to fulfil this role where in-house expertise is limited

Services Specific

  • A fire risk assessment typically includes identifying fire hazards, evaluating risks to people, reviewing fire detection and warning systems, assessing escape routes, and providing clear recommendations to improve safety and compliance.

  • The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) apply to most construction projects. If you are a client, designer or contractor, you have legal duties. We can support with documentation such as Construction Phase Plans, risk assessments, and general compliance.

  • Yes. We can create, review and update risk assessments, method statements, and policies tailored to your business, ensuring they are both compliant and practical to implement

  • We offer both. Some clients require one-off support such as a fire risk assessment, while others benefit from ongoing support to manage compliance over time

  • A competent person is someone with the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and training to properly manage health and safety. Many businesses appoint an external consultant to fulfil this role where in-house expertise is limited

Practical & Commercial

  • Costs depend on the type and scope of work. We provide clear, transparent pricing and will always discuss your requirements before providing a quotation. Our aim is to deliver practical value, not unnecessary complexity.

  • We aim to respond quickly to all enquiries and can often begin work within a short timeframe depending on availability and urgency.

  • No. Our approach is practical and proportionate. We focus on what is necessary to keep your business compliant and safe, without adding unnecessary paperwork or disruption.

Trust & Positioning

  • We provide practical, real-world support across compliance, risk management and sustainability — not just theoretical advice.

    With experience in estates management, project delivery and operational environments, we understand the pressures businesses face and tailor our approach accordingly.

    What sets us apart:

    • Practical solutions that work in real environments

    • Clear, straightforward advice without unnecessary jargon

    • Proportionate systems — not overcomplicated paperwork

    • Integrated support across compliance, risk and sustainability

    • Reliable and responsive service

    Our focus is on helping you stay compliant, reduce risk, and improve how your business operates — in a way that is realistic, efficient and aligned with your goals.

  • Many consultants focus heavily on documentation. While documentation is important, we focus equally on how things work in practice.

    We take the time to understand your business and provide solutions that are realistic, usable, and aligned with your operations — not generic templates.

  • Yes. We regularly support businesses starting from a minimal or informal position. We will guide you through what is required in a clear and manageable way, prioritising key risks and building systems step by step.

Sustainability

  • We support businesses in improving their environmental performance in a practical and achievable way. This can include identifying energy and cost-saving opportunities, supporting sustainability strategies, improving resource efficiency, and helping organisations understand and meet their environmental responsibilities.

  • Not all businesses are legally required to have a formal sustainability strategy, but there is increasing pressure from clients, investors, and regulators to demonstrate environmental responsibility. Having a clear, proportionate approach can improve reputation, reduce costs, and support long-term resilience.

  • Yes. Many sustainability measures — such as reducing energy use, improving waste management, and optimising processes — can lead to direct cost savings. The key is identifying practical actions that suit your business rather than implementing unnecessary or costly initiatives.

  • The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) is a mandatory energy assessment scheme for large UK organisations that meet certain criteria (such as employee numbers or turnover thresholds). If applicable, businesses must assess their energy use and identify opportunities for savings.

    We can help you understand whether ESOS applies and support you in identifying practical energy efficiency improvements.

  • Yes. We regularly support businesses at an early stage. We focus on simple, practical steps first — helping you understand your current position and identifying realistic improvements without overcomplicating the process.

Risk Management

  • Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and controlling risks that could affect your business. This includes health and safety risks, operational risks, financial risks, and reputational risks. A structured approach helps prevent issues and supports better decision-making.

  • Yes, although it should be proportionate. Even smaller organisations face risks that can impact operations, finances, and reputation. A simple, structured approach to identifying and managing risks can significantly improve resilience.

  • A risk register is a document that records identified risks, their potential impact, likelihood, and the controls in place to manage them. It provides a clear overview of key risks and helps businesses prioritise actions.

  • Yes. We can develop tailored risk registers aligned to your operations and support you in maintaining them. Our focus is on making them practical and usable, not just a document that sits unused.

  • Health and safety is a key part of overall risk management. However, risk management goes further by considering wider business risks such as operational disruption, compliance failures, and strategic challenges.

  • Yes. We can support project-based risk management, including identifying risks at planning stage, implementing controls, and monitoring throughout the project lifecycle. This is particularly valuable for construction and estates-related projects.

Combined Positioning

  • Yes. Many of these areas overlap. For example, health and safety, environmental performance, and operational risk are often interconnected.

    We provide a joined-up approach, helping businesses manage these areas in a coordinated and practical way rather than treating them as separate issues.

  • Managing these areas separately can lead to duplication, gaps, or unnecessary complexity. A joined-up approach ensures that systems are efficient, aligned, and easier to manage — while still meeting legal and operational requirements.

Still have questions? If you’re unsure about your responsibilities or need practical support, we’re here to help. Cyrious Consultancy Ltd provides straightforward advice and hands-on support across compliance, risk management and sustainability. Get in touch today for an informal discussion.