HomeNewsWhat is safeguarding, and why should your small business care?
What is safeguarding, and why should your small business care?
Safeguarding is all about creating safer environments for your staff, your customers, and your community.
It means preventing harm, protecting people, and managing risks. But it also includes the everyday things that help build a positive workplace culture and protect your company’s reputation. While safeguarding is often linked to schools or care homes, it matters in every type of business, including small ones here in Barnsley.
Whether you run a café, a local shop, or a consultancy business, safeguarding is something you can do every day. It’s part of being a responsible employer and a trusted part of your community.
Short on time? Here’s what you need to know:
Safeguarding isn’t only for children. It applies to adults too, especially those who may be vulnerable.
You may already be taking actions towards safeguarding without realising it.
Safeguarding matters for every business, regardless of the size or sector.
Prioritising safeguarding will help you meet legal obligations and protect your reputation.
Safeguarding means protecting people from harm, whether physical, emotional, or psychological. It’s about creating safe spaces, free from abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
In a business, that includes your employees, customers, and anyone else you work with. It’s about:
Looking out for others
Keeping your workplace safe
Creating a respectful culture
Managing risks before they become problems
Knowing what to do if something goes wrong
You may already be doing more to support safeguarding than you realise. It’s about more than policies and procedures, and often starts with simple, human actions. Things like being aware of how others are feeling or creating a place where people feel safe to be themselves.
These everyday behaviours can have a big impact. Here are a few small ways this may show up:
Noticing when someone seems upset, confused, or scared
Listening when someone shares a concern
Creating policies that deal with bullying or harassment
Keeping personal data secure
Making sure everyone feels respected and welcome
Is safeguarding just for businesses working with children?
Safeguarding does include protecting children, but it also means looking out for vulnerable adults too. That can include people affected by age, disability, mental health issues, or difficult life circumstances.
That means safeguarding applies to all businesses and sectors, including those that don’t work directly with children. It’s important, regardless of someone’s background, age, gender, or role. Whether you’re talking about a customer, employee, or visitor, everyone has the right to feel safe and supported.
In a small business, this could mean:
Recognising when a regular customer may be at risk
Supporting a team member struggling with their mental health
Dealing with inappropriate behaviour towards staff
Knowing how to spot problems, and what to do about them, can help protect someone who is vulnerable.
Why does safeguarding matter for your business?
Without safeguarding, our working environments can become places where bullying, harassment, or even abuse happens. Often, it’s unintentional, but that doesn’t make the consequences any less serious.
Getting safeguarding right means:
Making people feel safe and supported when interacting with your business
Helping staff feel respected and engaged
Building customer trust and loyalty
Protecting your business from legal and reputational risks
You don’t need to be a legal expert, but it is important to know your basic responsibilities under UK law. We’ve shared some helpful links in the references section below.
Neglecting safeguarding could mean your business facing legal or financial consequences. But, more importantly, someone could be harmed.
Five reasons why safeguarding matters for small businesses
It protects vulnerable individuals – You have a moral and legal duty to keep people safe, including children, older people, and those with disabilities or mental health needs.
It reduces legal and financial risks – Clear safeguarding policies and procedures can help prevent legal action, complaints, or fines.
It creates a better place to work – Safeguarding helps you create a culture of respect, safety, and accountability. This can reduce stress, show employees you care about their wellbeing, and increase morale.
It builds trust and strengthens your brand – People want to deal with businesses they trust. Committing to safeguarding will build your brand reputation, attracting employees, investors, and loyal customers.
It helps you meet ethical and legal obligations – Some industries have specific regulations and guidelines for safeguarding. Even if yours doesn’t, it’s still the right thing to do and shows you care about people’s safety.
Examples of safeguarding in small businesses
Safeguarding doesn’t need to be complicated. It’s often about small, everyday actions that help people feel safe, supported, and respected. You don’t need a huge HR team, or complex systems. Even just thinking about the experience others have when interacting with your business can go a long way.
This might include:
Having a safeguarding or harassment policy
Training staff to recognise and report issues
Offering a safe, private way to raise concerns
Storing personal data securely
Here’s a closer look at what safeguarding can look like in a small business:
Policies and procedures
Make it clear how your business will identify, report, and respond to safeguarding concerns. Cover areas like harassment, data protection, bullying, discrimination, and abuse. Review policies regularly and make sure everyone knows their responsibilities.
Staff training
Teach staff how to recognise signs of harm, abuse, or neglect, and what to do next. Offer training for managers on handling inappropriate behaviour, creating a positive culture, and supporting neurodivergent team members.
Risk assessments and audits
Carry out regular risk assessments to flag up safeguarding issues and identify how to prevent them. Use audits to ensure policies are being followed and work in practice.
Mental health and employee wellbeing
Support your team by promoting a culture of respect and accountability. This can help prevent bullying, harassment, and other forms of abuse in the workplace. Make sure it’s easy to ask for help too, especially when employees are struggling with stress or burnout.
Open culture and clear communication
Create an environment where people feel safe to speak up. A confidential reporting system can help employees share their concerns safely and know they will be properly investigated.
What to learn more about safeguarding – in plain English?
Join us for a free Safeguarding Matters seminar at The Business Village in Barnsley. Hosted by national and international safeguarding expert, Adele Gladman.
You’ll come away with:
A clear understanding of what safeguarding means for your business
Simple, practical tips you can start using straight away
The confidence to create or improve your own safeguarding policies
Knowledge of who to contact if you’re unsure or concerned
The chance to ask questions in a relaxed, friendly setting
Safeguarding isn’t about red tape or ticking boxes. It’s about looking out for people and creating the kind of environment you’d want to work in, visit, or recommend.
By building safeguarding into your culture, you’ll protect your team, your customers, and your business. Even small changes can make a big difference.
Come along to our free event and get started. And, if you know other local business owners who’d find this useful, please share this blog with them.
If you have questions about safeguarding in your business, we’re here to help. Email: ksteel@BarnsleyBIC.co.uk or call 01226 249 590
Legal framework for protecting children’s welfare and safety. Businesses working with or around children (family services, shops near schools) need to be aware of their responsibilities under this law
Focuses on safeguarding adults who may be at risk of abuse or neglect. Applies to businesses providing care or services to vulnerable adults, and relevant for others who interact with adults at risk.
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