Setters are trusted partners of the largest and most innovative companies across high-risk sectors. Recent clients include National Grid, United Utilities, UK Power Networks and British Sugar. They are leaders in safety performance improvement driven for over 30 years by the conviction that no one should be harmed through work.

Setter & Associates was established in February 1993 to provide companies in high-risk industries with health, safety, environmental and quality (SHEQ) services. They have three main offerings: Training, Consulting and Cultural development.

For nearly 30 years, setters have run in-person safety and productivity events and workshops for large corporations and critical infrastructure organisations. Most of setters clients are FTSE 100 companies involved in infrastructure, utilities, energy, power, manufacturing and raw materials.

In 2019, a plan was underway to update IT and administration, become a hybrid (office and remote) organisation, complete rebranding AND a succession plan to pass the reins from Graham Setter to his son Matthew.

Initially, OOTBI was invited to assist with digitalising the legacy database and reporting system, moving it from office-based with limited user access with the current Microsoft Access to cloud-based in a bespoke platform with more than ten different user access dashboards.

We also consulted regarding the practicalities of the succession business model change as it was being created. The hierarchical business model was being replaced by a flat organisation called The +people Partnership, where highly experienced SHEQ professionals would join as partners and head up each client programme.

OOTBI started consulting, designing and planning the new cloud database and access system in December 2019. The first substantial work scope was authorised in January 2020, and software programming commenced in February. Then COVID hit…

The brick-and-mortar office needed to close due to government guidelines. Staff were furloughed, and client contracts were cancelled or delayed due to general uncertainty. 2020 was going to be the year of cloud digitalisation, rebranding, a new company, and a succession plan, which was already a monumental task. The plans to become remote and move the office to the cloud became urgent.

Fast forward to the end of 2023, at the time of this update, and we are proud to tell you that we are still working with The +people Partnership. We helped turn a 30-year organisation into a fully remote one, drastically slashing overheads.

We worked with the +People Partnership and accessed the Welsh Government’s SMART Innovation (SMART Cymru) Funding Programme and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to create a cloud-based bespoke business platform. Due to our cloud platform (and MS Office 365), a physical business location was no longer required.

The platform houses all course and event data and associated materials with comprehensive functionality, including a learning management system (LMS) with multimedia outputs. We have helped them create interactive self-learning and coach-assisted courses. We also assisted with other tasks such as designing and developing brochures, presentations, adverts, flyers, a new website, smart apps, and Excel solutions.