Version 1.0 · November 2025 · Next review November 2026
WealthVector is committed to the principles contained in the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. We recognise our responsibilities for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of Employees whilst at work and our duty of care towards visitors and contractors who visit our premises and who are affected by our activities.
In particular, WealthVector will, so far as reasonably practicable, provide the following:
It is each person's responsibility to ensure they know the safest method for any activity they may have to undertake and do not complete any task for which they have not received sufficient information or training.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires assessments are made of significant risks arising from work equipment or work activities, which are undertaken, as necessary.
In summary, everyone at WealthVector has responsibility for Health & Safety.
Has overall responsibility for the health and safety performance of WealthVector, and will:
Has responsibility for the health and safety performance of WealthVector, and will:
Has responsibility for reporting, and to review, document and ensure continuous improvement of Health & Safety arrangements and practices.
The Management Team is responsible and will be held accountable, to ensure that:
Have responsibility to comply with the Health and Safety Policy and must:
WealthVector recognises that working from home constitutes lone working under HSE guidance. Lone working occurs when employees work without close or direct supervision, out of sight or earshot of colleagues.
All home workers are considered lone workers and appropriate risk assessments will be conducted to identify and mitigate risks specific to working alone, including:
To ensure the wellbeing and safety of lone workers:
All lone workers must:
Where an employee is working outside normal hours or in circumstances where they may be at increased risk, additional check-in arrangements should be agreed with their manager in advance.
WealthVector has a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to protect employees from all risks to their health, including work-related stress and mental ill-health.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) explicitly requires employers to assess and manage risks to mental health in the same way as physical health risks. Failure to do so can result in enforcement action, legal claims, and for FCA-regulated firms, regulatory scrutiny regarding fitness and propriety of staff and workplace culture.
WealthVector recognises that remote working can present specific risk factors including isolation, difficulty maintaining work-life boundaries, and reduced social interaction with colleagues, which must be actively managed.
We will assess the risk of work-related stress by:
All employees are encouraged to:
We actively discourage presenteeism (working while unwell). Employees who are ill should take sick leave. Working while unwell can impair recovery, reduce productivity, and potentially spread illness to others especially when commuting, attending meetings or in future office settings.
WealthVector may provide Mental Health First Aid training to designated individuals to enhance peer support capabilities as the organisation grows.
Employees experiencing mental health difficulties are encouraged to speak with their manager or the Compliance Officer. Information about external support services, including NHS resources and any other available resources can be made available.
All accidents or near misses must be appropriately recorded and an Accident Report form completed. Please report to the CEO in the first instance.
Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), certain workplace accidents, injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The CEO is responsible for determining whether an incident is reportable under RIDDOR and for making reports to the HSE. All accidents must be reported internally to enable this assessment to be made.
All reported accidents will be fully investigated to: understand the cause; identify any failures in risk assessment or control measures; implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence; meet our legal obligations under RIDDOR where applicable. Employees must cooperate fully with accident investigations and provide accurate information about the circumstances.
WealthVector is committed to consulting with employees on health and safety matters in accordance with the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996.
Employees will be consulted on: introduction or changes to health and safety policies and procedures; risk assessments and control measures that may affect them; health and safety training requirements; health and safety performance and any incidents or concerns; appointment of competent persons to assist with health and safety compliance.
Consultation will take place through team meetings and one-to-one discussions with line managers; direct communication from the CEO or Compliance Officer; employee surveys or feedback requests (where appropriate); review of policies and procedures before implementation.
All employees have the right to raise health and safety concerns without fear of negative consequences. Concerns should be raised with your line manager (first point of contact), or the CEO or Compliance Officer (if concerns relate to your line manager or remain unresolved). All concerns will be taken seriously and investigated appropriately, responded to in a timely manner, and used to improve health and safety arrangements where necessary.
Should employees wish to elect a health and safety representative to represent their interests, WealthVector will support this process and consult with elected representatives on health and safety matters.
Employee feedback and suggestions for improving health and safety are always welcome and will be actively considered as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.
Under the Equality Act 2010, WealthVector has a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for employees and job applicants who have a disability.
A person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. This includes: physical disabilities; sensory impairments (sight, hearing); long-term health conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, HIV); mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder); learning disabilities and neurodevelopmental conditions (dyslexia, autism, ADHD); progressive conditions.
Where an employee or job applicant has a disability, WealthVector will make reasonable adjustments to remove or reduce disadvantages they face. Adjustments may include: modifications to workstation or equipment (specialist chairs, larger monitors, assistive technology); flexible or adjusted working hours; additional breaks; modified duties or reallocation of certain tasks; additional training or support; adjustments to policies or procedures; allowing time off for medical appointments or treatment.
Employees who require reasonable adjustments should inform their line manager or the CEO as early as possible; provide information about their disability and the difficulties they face (medical evidence may be requested to understand needs); discuss what adjustments might be helpful. WealthVector will engage in an open dialogue with the employee; seek medical or occupational health advice where appropriate; consider all reasonable adjustments that would enable the employee to perform their role; implement agreed adjustments in a timely manner; review adjustments regularly to ensure they remain effective.
Information about an employee's disability and any adjustments will be treated confidentially and shared only with those who need to know to implement or manage the adjustments.
Reasonable adjustments for home workers may include provision of specialized equipment, furniture, or assistive technology to enable effective home working.
If Contractors are appointed, the person appointing them is responsible for ensuring they are competent to undertake the work required of them and for monitoring their actions whilst on site.
All potential external contractors will be required to submit a copy of a valid Public Liability Insurance Certificate. A copy of the certificate must be kept on file. Contractors must be able to show that they are complying with health and safety good practice. Depending on the work they are required to do, this may include:
The person responsible for engaging any contractor is responsible for obtaining evidence of the contractor's qualifications, experience and training of workforce. If sub-contractors are used, the main contractor must supply details of arrangement of appointment of sub-contractors, including their own arrangements for screening and monitoring of working standards.
Under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, WealthVector must assess workstations for all employees who use display screen equipment (computers, laptops, tablets) for one hour or more continuously as part of their normal work.
All employees are required to complete a DSE workstation self-assessment: within their first month of employment; annually thereafter; immediately if they experience any pain, discomfort, or visual difficulties; whenever there is a significant change to their workstation, equipment, or working arrangements; if they change their regular work location.
All employees receive workstation set-up guidance during onboarding. For information on how to set up your desk and display screen equipment correctly, please review this video: https://youtu.be/F8_ME4VwTiw
Where a DSE assessment identifies that an employee's workstation does not meet required standards, WealthVector will provide guidance on corrective measures; provide necessary equipment where the employee does not have suitable equipment available (e.g., appropriate chair, monitor, keyboard, mouse); reimburse reasonable costs for essential equipment where direct provision is not practicable. Employees should discuss equipment needs with their line manager or the Compliance Officer.
Employees who use DSE as a significant part of their work are entitled to: a free eye test before commencing DSE work (or soon after); regular eye tests thereafter (recommended annually, or as advised by an optician); additional tests if experiencing visual difficulties that may be related to DSE use. WealthVector will reimburse the cost of a basic eye test up to a maximum of £25 per test. If the optician confirms that glasses are specifically required for DSE use, WealthVector will contribute towards the cost of basic corrective glasses to a maximum of £50. Claims should be submitted with receipts to the CEO or Compliance Officer for approval.
WealthVector complies with the Working Time Regulations 1998, which set out minimum standards for working hours, rest breaks, and time off.
Employees' contracted working hours are set out in their employment contracts. Under the Working Time Regulations, employees must not work more than an average of 48 hours per week (calculated over a 17-week period) unless they have signed an opt-out agreement.
Employees are entitled to:
All employees must take their entitled rest breaks. Managers should ensure workloads and deadlines allow employees to take breaks.
Working remotely can blur the boundaries between work and personal time. To maintain healthy working patterns: employees should work their contracted hours and avoid routinely working significantly beyond these; employees are encouraged to disconnect from work email and communication systems outside of working hours; employees should not feel obligated to respond to non-urgent communications outside their normal working hours; any concerns about workload or excessive hours should be raised with line managers.
Line managers are responsible for monitoring working patterns and ensuring employees are not working excessive hours that may affect their health, safety, or wellbeing.
Employees should familiarise themselves with WealthVector emergency procedures relevant to their location. As a minimum all Employees should know the location of their nearest fire exits as well as the emergency evacuation procedure.
The objectives of holding practice evacuations are to test effectiveness of the system and familiarise Employees with the procedure for evacuation. There is no particular procedure in place currently, due to all Employees working remotely, however all Employees must comply and participate fully during all fire drills or evacuations and follow instructions from the appointed Fire Warden and/or building management.
For assistance or to report any accidents or near miss incidents please contact the CEO who will record details of the incident and if appropriate provide advice.
Extremely high standards of hygiene must be adhered to in shared kitchens, general office space and individual workstations. Employees should ensure they are responsibly maintaining good standards in kitchen and eating areas, including the office space and any equipment that is provided and used. It is each employee's own responsibility to tidy after themselves at mealtimes, this includes cleaning of crumbs or spillages and also the washing of dishes. Dirty dishes, glasses, mugs or cutlery must not be left in the office space overnight.
Everyone comes into contact with hazardous substances ie. chemicals, whilst at work, such as printer toner or cleaning products. It is noted that WealthVector's Employees are generally at low risk, however if an Employee has any concerns or requests they should contact their Manager or the CEO.
It is the responsibility of the Employee to collect their guests from the front door and to ensure that in the event of an emergency they escort their guest to the pre-determined Assembly Point. It is good practice to advise your guests if the fire test is due, who the appointed fire warden is, where they can find the rest rooms, and where the nearest fire escapes are should they not be with you at the time an alarm sounds.
Health and safety training is provided to all Employees during induction. Any subsequent training requirements should be referred to the Compliance Officer in the first instance.
Good housekeeping plays an important part in accident prevention. Employees are responsible for reporting if additional cleaning is required or standards need improving.
Manual handling relates to the moving of items either by lifting, lowering, carrying, pushing or pulling. The weight of the item is an important factor, but many other factors can create a risk of injury, for example the number of times you have to pick up or carry an item, the distance you are carrying it, where you are picking it up or putting it down from and any twisting, bending stretching or other awkward posture you may adopt while doing a task. Employees are not expected to undertake manual handling as a normal part of their normal daily tasks.
WealthVector has a zero-tolerance policy for texting or emailing while driving and only hands-free talking while driving is permitted. Journeys should be planned in advance with suitable rest stops when messages can then be checked and calls answered. Where phone calls are expected to be lengthy always use a headset, particularly when using your laptop or making written notes. Where possible and privacy allows, using the speaker on a conference phone is recommended.
WealthVector will take all reasonable measures to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of employees who are pregnant, have given birth within the last six months, or are breastfeeding.
A specific risk assessment will be conducted for all new and expectant mothers to identify any risks that may affect them or their baby. This assessment will consider: working hours and workload; workstation setup and posture; stress and fatigue levels; lone working arrangements; manual handling requirements (if any); exposure to any substances or conditions that may pose a risk; requirements for rest breaks and facilities. The risk assessment will be carried out as soon as the employee notifies the Firm of their pregnancy; reviewed regularly throughout the pregnancy; following return from maternity leave.
Based on the risk assessment findings, WealthVector may implement adjustments including but not limited to: modified working hours or patterns; additional rest breaks; adjustment to workload or duties; provision of additional equipment; temporary redeployment to suitable alternative work (if necessary).
Employees who are breastfeeding are entitled to take rest breaks for expressing milk and access to appropriate facilities for expressing and storing milk (when office facilities are available). Employees should discuss their requirements with their line manager or the CEO.
Employees should notify their line manager or the CEO of their pregnancy as early as possible to enable appropriate risk assessments and support to be put in place. All information will be treated confidentially. For further information and to arrange a risk assessment, please contact your line manager or the CEO.
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, WealthVector must conduct suitable and sufficient risk assessments to identify hazards and evaluate risks to employees and others affected by our work activities.
All employees who work from home must complete a home working risk assessment at least annually and immediately if: there is a change to their home working location; there is a change to their role or working practices; they develop any pain, discomfort, or health issues potentially related to their work; there is an accident or near miss; new equipment or technology is introduced.
Where WealthVector has office premises, risk assessments of the office space must be undertaken at least annually or where there has been a material change, such as: significant change in equipment or layout; change in the work processes or systems; change in personnel or their roles; following an accident, near miss, or incident where existing arrangements could be improved. Building management are responsible for assessing common areas. Employees must highlight any issues to their line manager and the CEO, who will take appropriate action in conjunction with building management.
Risk assessments will: identify hazards (anything that could cause harm); identify who might be harmed and how; evaluate the level of risk; determine appropriate control measures to eliminate or reduce risks; be recorded in writing; be reviewed regularly and when circumstances change.
It is the responsibility of all employees to complete required risk assessments (home working, DSE) within specified timeframes; report any changes to their circumstances that may affect risk assessments; notify their line manager of any hazards, risks, or safety concerns; cooperate with implementation of control measures. All completed risk assessments should be submitted to the Compliance Officer, who may seek additional information or external advice before implementing any remedial actions.
WealthVector maintains Employer's Liability Insurance as required by the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. This insurance covers all employees, including those working from home, for injury or illness arising from their work. A copy of the current Employer's Liability Insurance certificate is available on request from the CEO.
Employees who work from home on a regular basis should notify their home insurance provider and, if applicable, their mortgage provider or landlord. This is to ensure their home insurance policy covers business use; there are no restrictions in tenancy agreements or mortgage terms regarding working from home; equipment (whether owned by the employee or WealthVector) is adequately covered. WealthVector is not responsible for any damage to, or loss of, employees' personal property. Employees are responsible for ensuring their own possessions are adequately insured.
Equipment provided by WealthVector for business use remains the property of WealthVector. Loss, theft, or damage to WealthVector equipment should be reported immediately to the line manager or CEO. WealthVector's insurance covers employer-owned equipment used by employees at home, subject to reasonable care being taken.
Where an accident occurs during working hours and arises from work activities, this is covered by WealthVector's Employer's Liability Insurance. Employees must report all work-related accidents, injuries, or near misses immediately in accordance with the Accidents section of this policy.
Employees working from home must ensure appropriate security measures are in place to protect confidential business information and client data. Refer to the Data Protection and Information Security policies for detailed requirements.
Tools or equipment, other than that which is required to undertake normal working should not be brought into the office space. Employees do not have access to power tools or other dangerous equipment while in the office, and should not attempt access to, or use of the same under any circumstances. The responsible parties for plant rooms, riser cupboards, cleaning equipment are building management and their contractors.
WealthVector is committed to providing appropriate health and safety training to all employees to ensure they can work safely and meet their responsibilities under health and safety law.
All new employees will receive health and safety induction training during their first week of employment, covering: key provisions of this Health and Safety Policy; employee responsibilities for health and safety; risk assessment requirements (home working, DSE); accident and incident reporting procedures; emergency procedures; lone working arrangements; work-related stress and mental health support; how to raise health and safety concerns.
Additional health and safety training will be provided: when an employee's role changes in a way that affects their health and safety responsibilities; when new equipment, technology, or work processes are introduced; following changes to health and safety legislation or procedures; as identified through risk assessments or following incidents; as refresher training (recommended at least every 2-3 years).
WealthVector will provide specialist training where required, which may include: First Aid at Work training (designated persons); Mental Health First Aid training (designated persons, optional); Fire Warden training (when office premises are established); manual handling training (if required for specific roles); risk assessment training for managers.
At least annually, all employees are required to complete a Home Working Risk Assessment; complete a DSE Workstation Self-Assessment; confirm they have read and understood the current Health and Safety Policy. Risk assessment documents include guidance notes which employees must review before completing assessments.
All completed risk assessments must be submitted to the Compliance Officer, who will review submissions for completeness and accuracy; identify any concerns or additional risks; seek advice from external sources if required; arrange implementation of any necessary remedial actions; maintain records of all assessments.
Records of all health and safety training will be maintained for a minimum of five years and will include: type of training provided; date of training; trainer/training provider; employees who attended; assessment or certification outcomes (where applicable).
WealthVector currently operates as a fully remote Firm. When office premises are established (anticipated 2026), employees may work on a hybrid basis, splitting time between home and the office.
Prior to establishing office premises, WealthVector will: conduct a full risk assessment of the office space; ensure compliance with fire safety, first aid, and emergency procedures; provide appropriate office equipment and facilities; conduct DSE assessments for office workstations; brief all employees on office-specific health and safety arrangements; update this policy with office-specific provisions.
Assessment and maintenance of common areas (entrances, stairwells, lifts, toilets); fire safety systems and emergency procedures; building security; heating, lighting, and ventilation; structural safety.
Risk assessment of WealthVector-controlled office space; provision and maintenance of office furniture and equipment; implementation of safe systems of work; office-specific emergency procedures; management of contractors and visitors to our office space; liaison with building management on health and safety matters.
Employees working in the office must familiarize themselves with fire exits and evacuation routes; location of first aid facilities; emergency assembly points; fire alarm testing schedules; appointed Fire Wardens and First Aiders. Report any health and safety concerns in the office space to their line manager or CEO immediately.
Where hot-desking arrangements are in place: employees must conduct a brief workstation check before use; adjustable chairs and monitor positions should be set appropriately; any damaged equipment or concerns should be reported immediately; personal belongings should not be left to create trip hazards.
This policy will be updated with detailed office-specific procedures once premises are secured and operational. Employees will be notified of any changes and provided with updated training as required.
WealthVector is committed to protecting employees from violence, aggression, and threatening behaviour, whether physical or verbal, and regardless of the source.
This section covers: aggressive or threatening behaviour from clients, customers, or members of the public; threatening communications via phone, email, video calls, or other channels; physical violence or threats of violence; verbal abuse, bullying, or harassment; behaviour that causes employees to feel threatened, intimidated, or unsafe.
Risk assessments will consider potential exposure to violence or aggression, particularly for employees who deal with complaints or difficult situations; handle enforcement or regulatory matters; work with vulnerable or distressed clients; conduct home visits or face-to-face meetings.
WealthVector will take reasonable steps to minimize risks, which may include: training employees in de-escalation techniques and conflict management; providing clear procedures for handling difficult situations; ensuring employees are not required to work alone in high-risk situations; implementing security measures (when office premises are established); reviewing client relationships where persistent aggressive behaviour occurs.
Employees who experience or witness violence, aggression, or threatening behaviour should: remove themselves from the situation if it is safe to do so; not put themselves at risk of harm; end phone calls or video meetings if the other party becomes abusive; report the incident to their line manager or CEO immediately; in cases of immediate danger, contact emergency services (999).
All incidents of violence, aggression, or threatening behaviour must be reported, even if no physical harm occurred. WealthVector will take all reports seriously and investigate appropriately; consider whether to continue business relationships where aggressive behaviour occurs; report threats or violence to police where appropriate; provide support to affected employees, including referral to occupational health or counselling services if needed; review risk assessments and implement additional controls where necessary.
WealthVector operates a zero-tolerance approach to violence and aggression. No employee should tolerate or accept abusive or threatening behaviour as "part of the job."
In the office space, all day to day "normal" waste is removed and disposed of by cleaning staff. If you notice a build up of waste please contact building management in the first instance. When working from home, it is the employee's responsibility to ensure that waste is stored sensibly and removed regularly. Where possible adequate steps are taken by The Firm to ensure the correct disposal of waste in accordance with legal requirements and Employees are encouraged to participate in reducing our Carbon Footprint.
Provision of lighting is the responsibility of the landlord, energy efficient light bulbs are used which are on a movement sensor. Where there is an office space there is fully adjustable air conditioning and heating available. Energy saving modes should be utilised where possible along with a programmed activity schedule to allow for periods of downtime.
Paper Items
Plastics, Cans & Coffee Pods
Employees are encouraged to re-use their glassware and crockery rather than using a new item each time or using disposable items.
Batteries & Toner
Where used, batteries and printer cartridges should be recycled and not disposed of in the regular waste removal.