VolkerRail launched the Hazard Spotter Scheme in July 2012, as a way of raising awareness about the importance of health and safety reporting amongst employees. The scheme encourages employees to pro-actively report potential hazards and close calls, thus resulting in a safer environment for all.

To reinforce the scheme VolkerRail committed to support a local charity of its employees choosing, by donating £2.50 for every hazard reported and a further £2.50 for every hazard closed.

Stuart Webster Spriggs, HSQE Director at VolkerRail, commented on the scheme: "The new Hazard Spotter Scheme has been a great success and we've seen a huge amount of support from everyone. By encouraging employees to report hazards it gives them the opportunity to not only improve the safety of their working environment but also to prevent their work colleagues from being involved in a potential accident."

Julie Hampson, Corporate Fundraiser at Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, said: "We are absolutely thrilled that VolkerRail has raised such a fantastic amount of money in the last 18 months. It costs over £3 million a year to run the hospice and we get less than 5% government statutory funding, so we simply couldn't offer our services to local children and their families without the support of businesses like VolkerRail.

"The money will be used towards general running costs, which in turn allows us to offer the most valuable thing we possibly can; the ‘gift of time', allowing our families to spend precious time together, have fun and relax."

Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice offers care and support to children with a shortened life expectancy, both in their own homes and at the hospice in Sheffield.