The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) celebrated its 70th anniversary this year, marking how far health and safety standards have improved since 1956. What started out as a small awards ceremony to showcase UK companies championing safety has now become one of the biggest and most prestigious health and safety awards worldwide.
One long-standing recipient of RoSPA awards is national painting contractor, Alfred Bagnall and Sons Limited. Showcasing a true commitment to health, safety and accident prevention, Bagnalls has received a grand total of 17 RoSPA Gold awards – the last three of which have been paired with prestigious Orders of Distinction, which are awarded when 15 RoSPA Gold awards have been achieved.
The awards themselves reward the achievements of companies of all sizes – from small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to larger, more established businesses, like Bagnalls, which recently celebrated its own anniversary, marking 150 years of painting and decorating expertise.
RoSPA award hopefuls come from a range of sectors, including construction, manufacturing, entertainment and more, with all entries judged by industry-leading experts.
Each application to the awards encourages the enhancement of a company’s health and safety standards, prioritising policy reflection, continuing professional development (CPD) and ongoing workplace learning to reduce workplace accidents.
The awards themselves are sponsored by the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), which provides internationally recognised health, safety and environmental qualifications, raising health and safety competence at all levels of a business.
Dee Arp, NEBOSH Chief Quality Officer and the Head Judge of the RoSPA Awards, said: “NEBOSH is proud to be the headline sponsor of the RoSPA Awards. They provide an opportunity to celebrate excellence in health and safety, while also helping to strengthen a culture of care, accountability and continuous improvement.
“These awards are a powerful reminder that protecting people transcends borders. Supporting employees to return home safe, healthy and happy each day is fundamental to long-term success and resilience.”
Bagnalls’ Head of Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality (SHEQ), Becky Slater, said of the win: “Receiving our 17th RoSPA Gold award is a truly incredible achievement for us as a team and as a business.
“This also means we now have our third Order of Distinction, something we are very proud of and which will spur us on when it comes to championing health and safety within the construction industry and beyond.”
“I want to say thank you to the whole Bagnalls team – from our painters on the tools to our brilliant apprentices, management team and office professionals – for working safely, day in, day out.”
Julia Small, RoSPA’s Growth Director, said: “We congratulate the Bagnalls team on their RoSPA Gold Health and Safety Award. The high standards that Bagnalls has achieved are the result of hard work and dedication, of which the team should be rightfully proud and which RoSPA is delighted to honour.
“2026 is a landmark year for the RoSPA Awards as we reflect on how far workplace safety has come in 70 years. It is because of the commitment of health and safety leaders like Bagnalls, that people today are safer at work than in the past, setting an inspiring example for the future.”
Following their 17th RoSPA Gold award win, the Bagnalls team continues to be part of a proud legacy of organisations dedicated to keeping employees and the public safe.
