Safety first pays off as company wins new deal

Abeceder has agreed an open-ended deal with SafetyWorld to provide workplace safety awareness programs and products. The Leeds-based firm began working with SafetyWorld four years ago and has since began selling its products in Australia.

Now Michael Millward, the founder of Abeceder, wants to take the The Simpsons Safety through Awareness, Focus and Education (SAFE) to more foreign governments and will add Spanish and French versions this year.

The project consists of a series of posters and safety education products featuring characters from the popular cartoon.

"It is exactly the type of innovative workplace education program that complements the blended learning solution provided by Abeceder. It is an extremely effective device and it gets the point across. We want to expand the work we do overseas."

Abeceder, which is on course to turn over 250,000 for 2009-10, is an employee management company set up to make simple safety-at-work tutorials which stayed in people's memories.

Renewing its deal with SafetyWorld, which provides workplace safety awareness programs and products and has a major presence in Canada, comes after Abeceder began selling SAFE in Australia, the Middle East, Africa and Asia to industries ranging from oil exploration and refining to hotels, charities, universities and government departments.

Its reseller network in Britain and Ireland includes Agencybods, All Signs, ARCO, Heartbeat Safety, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, Safety Media, Safety Shop and Signs and Labels.

The new distribution agreement will see Abeceder add more safety topics

to its Simpsons product line and launch SAFE Work, designed to help small employers with safety meeting outlines and quizzes and staff handouts.

SAFE Start, a subscription safety education program delivering resources to the managers every month, will be targeted at larger firms.

Mr Millward added: "Despite some personalities taking regular pot shots at safety in recent years, employers do take their safety responsibilities seriously, and employees recognise the importance of working safely. Increasing the formats in which SAFE Program is available will enable a wider range of employers to provide structured but enjoyable learning."

Hugh Owen, chief executive and president of Owen Media Partners, the parent company of SafetyWorld, said: "SafetyWorld and Abeceder will continue to work together to provide customers with cost effective safety education resources.

"Safety education reduces the risk of avoidable workplace injuries and lowers companies' insurance costs. Reducing injuries is one of the most essential investments any company can make."

Michael Millward

Michael Millward, who grew up in Boston Spa, near York, has been working in human resources since 1981.

He began his career in Harrogate and went on to work with organisations including the NHS, Leeds-based Asda and financial services companies.

Abeceder's name comes from the word "abecedar", which means to put in alphabetical or logical order or deal with the rudiments of a subject.

He has also supported the Olympic and Paralympic Employment Network (OPEN), which was launched by the British Olympic Association and UK Sport to help Yorkshire's 200 elite athletes find jobs

that will fit in with their training.