Alternatives to Peninsula and Citation for Small Businesses
If you have under 60 staff and want a named adviser rather than a helpline, you have three types of provider to choose from: the national health and safety and HR providers such as Peninsula and Citation, software-led services, and independent regional consultancies such as SafeWise. What separates them is whether the price is published, how long the contract runs and what happens when it ends, and who you speak to once the sale is done.
SafeWise publishes every price on this page. Health and safety membership starts at £102 a month, HR membership at £128 and combined membership at £230, all excluding VAT, on a fixed one, three or five year term that you choose. You get your own dedicated adviser, and nothing auto renews.
Reviewed and accurate as of 7 September 2026.
Three questions to ask any provider before you sign
What is the total cost over the full term?
Multiply the monthly fee by the number of months, then add anything charged at the start. A low monthly figure on a long tie-in can cost more than a higher monthly figure on a short one, and the total is the only number that compares like with like.
SafeWise costs are set out in full further down this page. You choose one, three or five years, and you can pay monthly or annually.
How much notice do I give, and does it auto renew?
Ask for the renewal clause in writing, and put the notice date in your diary before you sign rather than after. Rolling renewal is where most of the complaints about this industry start.
SafeWise terms are fixed, and when the term ends it ends. Nothing rolls over unless you decide to renew.
Will I speak to the same person each time?
Ask who handles your account once the salesperson has gone, and whether that person will visit your site. There is a real difference between a named adviser who has read your documents and a rota of advisers on a helpline.
At SafeWise there is no salesperson. The adviser who onboards you is the adviser you keep, and they come to your site.
Which type of provider fits you
A national provider, if you want the brand and the scale
Multiple sites, high volume HR, a large software platform and insurance-backed cover matter more to you than a local face. Peninsula and Citation are built for that, and if it is what you need, that is where to look.
Software, if your problem is admin
Holidays, absence, rotas and documents, with somebody in house who is already confident on people issues. If nobody is asking you difficult questions about employment law or site safety, software on its own may be enough.
SafeWise, if you want one person who knows you
Between 1 and 60 staff, and unlimited advice from a named adviser who has read your documents and been to your site, with the price and the term visible before you pick up the phone.
SafeWise pricing
Every cell shows the monthly price, with the annual payment in brackets. Paying annually includes a 6% reduction. All prices exclude VAT. Workers means employees plus any regular self-employed people working in your business. Businesses of 61 workers and over are quoted individually.
Health and safety membership
| Workers | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 10 | £120 (£1,354) | £108 (£1,218) | £102 (£1,151) |
| 11 to 30 | £160 (£1,805) | £144 (£1,624) | £136 (£1,534) |
| 31 to 60 | £195 (£2,200) | £176 (£1,985) | £166 (£1,872) |
HR membership
| Workers | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 10 | £150 (£1,692) | £135 (£1,523) | £128 (£1,444) |
| 11 to 30 | £220 (£2,482) | £198 (£2,233) | £187 (£2,109) |
| 31 to 60 | £265 (£2,989) | £239 (£2,696) | £225 (£2,538) |
Combined HR and health and safety
| Workers | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 10 | £270 (£3,046) | £243 (£2,741) | £230 (£2,594) |
| 11 to 30 | £380 (£4,286) | £342 (£3,858) | £323 (£3,643) |
| 31 to 60 | £460 (£5,189) | £415 (£4,681) | £391 (£4,410) |
Combined membership is priced as the two memberships added together, so it costs no more than buying them separately. Businesses take it for the simplicity of one adviser relationship and one invoice.
What membership includes
Health and safety
- A dedicated health and safety adviser.
- Appointment of SafeWise as your competent health and safety person.
- Unlimited advice by telephone and email.
- An initial consultation to understand your business and assess its risks.
- A prioritised action plan with clear recommendations.
- A bespoke health and safety policy and supporting documentation.
- Ongoing reviews and updates to your policies and documentation.
- Updates on relevant legislation and industry best practice.
- Access to health and safety templates, resources and the online library.
- 25% off all SafeWise online training courses.
- A place on our quarterly health and safety in-person training courses.
HR
- A dedicated HR adviser.
- Unlimited advice by telephone and email.
- An initial HR consultation and an HR action plan for your business.
- An interim review at six months in year one, and annual reviews after that on multi-year memberships.
- A bespoke contract of employment template and employee handbook, tailored to your business.
- Access to our client resources, including HR policies, letters and other templates.
- Updates on legislation and industry best practice.
- Access to Omnia HR software, including onboarding and support.
- 25% off all SafeWise online training courses.
- A place on our quarterly HR in-person training courses.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy SafeWise membership online without a sales call?
Yes. Choose your headcount band and term on the membership page, pay by card, and your membership certificate is issued within minutes. We contact you within one working day to book the initial consultation with your adviser.
How much does health and safety membership cost for a 20 person business?
£160 a month excluding VAT on a one year term, or £136 a month on a five year term. Both include a dedicated adviser and the competent person appointment.
Does the contract auto renew?
No. You choose a fixed term of one, three or five years and the agreement ends when that term ends. If you want to carry on, you renew against a fresh quote sent to you at the time. Nothing rolls over without your say so.
Does membership include tribunal or employer insurance?
No. Membership is advice, documentation and a named adviser. If insurance-backed cover matters to you we can recommend an employment liability insurance provider, and it is worth checking what your existing business insurance already covers.
Do I legally need a competent person for health and safety?
Yes. Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires every employer to appoint one or more competent persons. If nobody in house has the training and experience, appointing an external consultant meets that requirement, and SafeWise membership includes the appointment.
What changes for sexual harassment and third-party harassment in October 2026?
From 30 October 2026 the Employment Rights Act 2025 raises the employer's duty from taking reasonable steps to taking all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment. It also makes employers liable for harassment of their staff by third parties such as customers, clients, contractors and visitors, unless they can show they took all reasonable steps to prevent it. In practice you need:
- A documented risk assessment.
- An anti-harassment policy that is up to date and covers third parties.
- Training for staff and for managers.
- A clear reporting route.
- Evidence that you review all of it.
HR members have this done as part of membership.
What changes for unfair dismissal in January 2027?
The qualifying period for unfair dismissal protection drops to six months on 1 January 2027. Anyone with six months' service on that date is protected immediately, which takes in everyone hired from July 2026 onwards. Contracts, probation procedures and manager training all need reviewing before then. We covered this in more detail in our article on the unfair dismissal changes affecting employees joining from 1 July 2026, and HR members have it done as part of membership.
Are you only for the Midlands?
We are based in Wolverhampton and most of our members are across the Midlands and Shropshire, but we go where our members go. Construction members in particular take us to sites across the country, and every member is supported by telephone, email and our online platforms wherever they are.
How long has SafeWise been going?
Since 2012. Over 340 UK businesses are members, with a 92% renewal rate and more than 125 five-star reviews.
Comparing us against a renewal quote?
Put the total cost of the full term side by side, check the notice period and the renewal clause on both, and ask each provider to name the person who will be handling your account. If the numbers above look right for you, the health and safety, HR and combined membership pages will price your headcount band in a couple of clicks.
Tags
