Electric vehicle fire training course launched in the UK

by Featured NewsTraining

Innovative EV fire training course launched in the UK

As reported by the International Fire Training Centre (IFTC), the UK’s first dedicated Electric Vehicle (EV) fire course has been developed at their facility.

The course aims to provide emergency responders with practical training in managing EV-involved fires and raising critical safety awareness.

Managed and operated by Serco, the course features an innovative ‘EV fire simulator’ designed to facilitate multiple scenarios for effective and repeatable training.

The simulator includes electric vehicle thermal runaway and fire simulation, enabling fire personnel to practice fire suppression techniques, such as vehicle fire blanket application and under chassis cooling.

Non-fire first responders will also participate in precautionary measures like vehicle fire blanket application and observe live fire exercises, experiencing the simulated conditions of an EV fire.

Ryan Flaherty, Serco Training and Resilience Director, said: “With almost one in four – that’s 14 million – electric vehicles already in operation around the globe, it’s never been more important to know how to safely contain and suppress Electric Vehicle fires.”

Collaboration with experts enhances course development

The IFTC has partnered with Martin Lown BEM from FireWiseUK Learning Academy to develop the simulator.

Martin, a seasoned expert with 30 years in the UK Fire and Rescue Service, specialises in vehicle fire investigation and alternative-fuelled vehicles (AFVs) and EVs.

His expertise, combined with the engineering capabilities of Bridgehill Fire Blankets, has resulted in a state-of-the-art training tool.

Martin stated: “With the worldwide green agenda dictating the transition to zero emission vehicles, and the subsequent rise in AFVs on our roads, vehicle risk is changing rapidly, as numbers of AFVs increase, dramatically.”

He highlighted the challenges first responders face in keeping up with the rapid advancements in EV technology and the associated risks of lithium-ion batteries.

The new course aligns with the IMI National Occupational Standards EV02a & EV02b for Electric Vehicle Response, providing essential awareness and knowledge of EV thermal events and fires under realistic training conditions.

Background on the International Fire Training Centre

The IFTC, managed by Serco, is renowned for its comprehensive aviation fire training programs.

For many years, firefighters from around the world have trained at IFTC, utilising its multiple fire simulators for real-time emergency exercises.

The centre’s export success since 1996 includes training thousands of delegates annually, with clients ranging from NATO to various international nations.

The 9-acre site features appliances for training exercises and an onsite water treatment facility that processes runoff, allowing for the use of diverse fire extinguishing media, including foam and powder.

This versatility in training media is typically restricted in other settings but is available at IFTC due to its advanced facilities.

Leading Life Safety: Exclusive interview with Paul Pope, Global Head of Fire and Life Safety Business at Ajax Systems

by Associations and OrganisationsBreaking NewsFire DetectionTraining

Paul Pope discusses the alignment of Ajax Systems’ values with the FIA’s mission and their collective efforts in improving fire safety standards

Recently appointed as Global Head of Fire and Life Safety Business at Ajax Systems, Paul Pope is no stranger to the technological advancements and industry standards within the fire safety sector.

With a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence, Paul has navigated the complexities of fire safety, from product development to market strategies.

His dual role as a board member of the Fire Industry Association (FIA) adds another layer of influence, helping to shape policies and standards that impact the industry globally.

In this exclusive interview, IFSJ Editor Iain Hoey sat down with Paul to discuss his roles, responsibilities and the future of fire safety.

What is your role at Ajax Systems and your responsibilities as a board member at the FIA?

My role involves collaborating with the industry, including Ajax and other countries, to manage everything related to fire safety.

This includes standards, product development, markets, and sales channels.

Essentially, I act as an advisor to ensure that we are focusing on the right areas.

My knowledge of international sales standards and markets benefits the entire business.

While Ajax is an integrated systems company, the fire safety sector is quite specialised.

My aim is to work with the teams to accelerate the development of this speciality within the group.

As a board member of the Fire Industry Association (FIA), my focus is on liaison.

I work with various councils within the FIA on key issues, which can range from government-related matters to industry standards.

My role involves coordinating with other bodies on initiatives for the FIA, alongside the CEO.

Additionally, this also involves general board responsibilities, including meetings, strategies, and addressing any issues the FIA faces.

 The FIA’s work is broad and touches almost every aspect of fire safety in the UK, and now internationally, with collaborations in Cyprus, India, the Middle East, and Dublin, Ireland.

What prompted Ajax Systems to join the FIA?

Ajax Systems is very serious about fire safety.

We’ve developed an excellent international product range, specifically designed for the residential market, which includes not only fire safety but also life safety products , including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide detectors.

The FIA is the leading organisation in Europe for fire safety, and Ajax wants to be part of that.

Given that we design and manufacture life safety products, it’s crucial for us to achieve professional status with the FIA, and to be involved in the sector as a leader.

Joining the FIA allows its members to help shape the future of fire safety and collaborate with other professional organisations within the association.

The great advantage of the FIA is that it brings together a wide range of companies in the sector, allowing us to work collaboratively for the betterment of the industry.

The primary objective within the FIA is to represent our industry at the highest levels and aiming for excellence within the sector, we enable everyone to be successful, ultimately creating a safer world.

Working within the FIA means working for the greater good—improving standards, competency, training, knowledge, and the overall sector.

Life safety is important, and we can’t afford to get it wrong.

Therefore, we must learn from the FIA’s experience, just as the FIA can learn from us through a collaborative approach.

How do Ajax Systems’ values and strategic goals align with the mission and activities of the FIA?

Education and competency are crucial for us, and we strongly emphasise it.

The FIA has been pioneering in improving competency and training, elevating the skills of engineering consultants, risk assessors, on-ground engineers, and end-users.

This aligns perfectly with Ajax’s values.

We have a fantastic product range, and we want engineers to be well-trained and professional in using our products.

Working alongside the FIA to promote their training and competency initiatives is why we are involved.

For us, ensuring the complete lifecycle of our fire safety products is managed professionally is vital.

The FIA’s focus on training is something we highly value.

For instance, they offer a comprehensive training courses on non-commercial (residential) design, installation and commissioning standards, BS 5839-6, which we believe should be promoted in the market.

By doing so, we can raise the bar for professional standards in the residential fire and life safety market.

How do you evaluate the current state of fire safety standards in the UK?

Recent events have made it clear that fire safety is now being taken much more seriously in the UK.

People understand the need for competency, and training is essential for ensuring both individuals and companies meet required standards.

Technology is advancing rapidly, often outpacing current standards.

The FIA holds a valuable position in providing interim knowledge and guidance as these changes occur.

By monitoring and addressing new developments, the FIA can pass on crucial information to its members and the wider audience.

Connectivity and the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and now the emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) are particularly relevant.

The FIA is involved in this evolution, and so is Ajax, given our focus on high technology.

Our goal is to make advancements that maintain and improve fire precaution measures, ensuring that new developments make things safer, not less secure.

What initiatives does Ajax Systems plan to undertake as part of its partnership with the FIA?

At the moment, our main objective is to work with the FIA to promote life safety within the residential sector.

This is an important area for us, as well as for the FIA, which has a great course on residential fire safety.

One crucial aspect of this partnership involves liaising with the government on housing issues, to continue to lower the incidence of fire-related injuries and deaths.

By collaborating more closely with the industry in this area, we can make a significant impact.

Since joining Ajax, I have become more focused on advocating for residential standards, and I believe there is much more we can achieve together to improve social, residential life and fire safety.

What role do you believe innovation plays in advancing fire safety standards?

Innovation plays a crucial role in advancing fire safety standards, particularly with emerging technologies.

At Ajax Systems, we bring our extensive experience with cutting-edge technology to the table.

We will work collaboratively with other FIA members to produce articles and shape future standards.

The FIA works in association with organisations like Euralarm, which is a strong advocate for connected technology.

There is substantial documentation on how to use and apply these technologies safely.

It’s essential to provide regulation, and guidance on the safe use of technology, and the FIA is actively involved in this area.

As technology evolves, standards will need updating, and we will be involved at the ground level along with other FIA members, to ensure they are as effective as possible.

Our aim is to enhance fire safety for the future.

Reflecting on the journey since the release of FireProtect, how has Ajax Systems’ approach to product development evolved?

Ajax’s product development is outstanding, and it’s one of the reasons I joined the company.

Watching the FireProtect range of products evolve from outside the company was impressive, but now, being inside Ajax, I can see even more of what has gone into developing this product line.

It’s a privilege to work with such a dedicated team.

Our approach to product development has evolved significantly, particularly in terms of integration.

Ajax products integrate seamlessly across various platforms, which will offer new dimensions in the future.

The technology and research invested in FireProtect 2 make it a crucial product line for life safety, addressing many industry issues, such as steam rejection, which has been a significant problem.

Ajax has effectively tackled these issues, enhancing asset management and detection status through remote monitoring.

This capability ensures that potential failures are detected before they happen, allowing for pre-emptive action.

The ability to communicate with and monitor products globally is why I believe this will shape the future of the industry.

Looking forward, what are the main challenges and opportunities you foresee in the fire safety industry?

The fire safety landscape is changing rapidly, and we must adapt to these changes.

For example, the rise of lithium-ion batteries in the car industry has introduced new fire risks, such as those related to charging batteries in buildings.

This is evident from incidents like the car park fire in Luton.

As we integrate more battery-powered vehicles into buildings, we need to address these new risks.

One significant challenge is ensuring that government regulations keep pace with technological advancements.

For instance, the grey market of second-hand batteries could pose unknown risks if their status and safety aren’t properly monitored.

Automation and the reduced need for human intervention will also impact the industry, necessitating updated risk strategies.

The Grenfell Tower disaster marked a significant change within the fire sector.

As technology and the use of buildings evolve, we must remain vigilant and adaptable.

Ajax Systems, in partnership with the FIA, and its members, aims to influence these changes positively by promoting innovation and ensuring that our practices and regulations keep up with new developments.

While we don’t have all the answers yet, we are committed to improving fire safety standards and addressing emerging challenges.

Are there any other issues or initiatives that are particularly important to you within the fire safety industry?

Something I’m extremely passionate about on a personal level is firefighter protection.

This includes their well-being, managing contamination levels in buildings, and decontamination processes.

This is also very important to the FIA, which is dedicated to looking after the welfare of our front line professionals.

Ensuring that buildings and their contents are safe for firefighters is crucial so they can do their jobs without unnecessary risks.

This is a personal passion of mine.

It’s important to raise awareness about the real dangers firefighters face and to promote measures that protect them.

We must prioritise the safety and well-being of those on the front line.

This article was originally published in the July 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

SKILLcard launches digital version for technical and health & safety qualifications

by Featured NewsFire EngineeringTraining

New digital SKILLcard system introduced

Engineering Services SKILLcard has launched a digital version of its traditional plastic cards.

The new system allows users to access all their technical and health & safety qualifications through a mobile phone app, as reported by BESA.

Managed by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), SKILLcard has provided over 50,000 building services engineers with evidence of necessary qualifications for 22 years.

The digital version offers a single, continuously updated point of access for all qualifications, enabling site access via a QR code that can be scanned using the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) ‘Smart Check App’.

Benefits of the digital transition

The introduction of a digital option will reduce the time between applying and using the card.

Access is available immediately after approval, which is expected to encourage more applicants and ensure broader use of the cards.

Chris Major, BESA’s head of operations, said: “We are moving with the times and providing a more seamless service that should make everyone’s lives easier.

“SKILLcards play a crucial role in ensuring operatives have the right qualifications for the job they are being employed to do on site.”

Response to the Building Safety Act

The Building Safety Act is increasing scrutiny of competence and compliance across the sector, prompting the creation of the digital SKILLcard.

This development aims to make workforce skills instantly available, transparent, and constantly updated.

Reducing plastic usage is another benefit of transitioning from physical cards.

BESA is also exploring ways to reclaim and recycle plastic SKILLcards once they are no longer needed.

Major commented: “Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down in landfill unless it is captured and recycled.

“As the trade body for an industry that is at the forefront of efforts to develop a more sustainable built environment, we see this as an important way of demonstrating that we practice what we preach.”

Role in the 2025 Construction Industry Strategy

SKILLcard supports the government’s 2025 Construction Industry Strategy by helping clients verify workers’ qualifications and health and safety training.

The card is used by trade operatives, those with supervisory and managerial responsibilities, self-employed workers, agency workers, and job seekers in the building engineering services sector.

BESA has collaborated with the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA), the Institute of LEV Engineers (ILEVE), and the Commissioning Specialists Association (CSA) to produce new cards for specialist sectors to meet stricter skills requirements.

For more information about engineering services SKILLcards and application procedures, visit: www.skillcard.org.uk.

Online fire extinguisher technicians refresher course launched by FPA

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsFire SuppressionTraining

Online fire extinguisher technicians refresher course available

The Fire Protection Association (FPA) has introduced an online version of its Fire Extinguisher Technicians Refresher course, complementing its existing in-person classroom option.

As reported by the FPA, this move aligns with the Part 3 legal requirements of BS 5306, which mandates that refresher training be conducted every three years.

This course is intended to help professionals maintain their competence after completing the FPA’s Portable Fire Extinguisher Recharging Maintenance course.

Benefits of the new online course

The new online offering aims to ensure that professionals can access this essential training regardless of their location.

The online course is designed to offer the same technical level and quality as the in-person course, featuring a tutor-led virtual classroom with breakout room work, video streaming, and real-time messaging.

Russell Pratt, Senior Fire Safety Trainer at the FPA, stated: “The FPA recognises the importance of accessible learning.

“Changing the delivery method of this course enables technicians nationwide to adhere to the requirement of refresher training with BS5306-3 without having the level of technical delivery compromised.”

Target audience and learning outcomes

The course is targeted at various professionals, including fire extinguisher maintenance practitioners, fire door inspectors, fire safety consultants, fire safety technicians, apprentice fire alarm engineers, sellers and estimators, designers, premises managers, maintenance staff, and facility managers.

Learning outcomes of the course include:

  • Awareness and understanding of the British standards
  • Awareness of new requirements
  • Knowledge of current and forthcoming industry issues, such as the environmental impact of extinguishants and obligations for their responsible disposal
  • Awareness of new extinguishers to offer best practice advice and informed cost-effective choices
  • Knowledge of provision and siting for different extinguishers, considering travel distances
  • Understanding of maintenance intervals and current service principles, including condition checks, weight tolerances, and disposal processes

Member benefits

The one-day refresher course is available to FPA members with a 10% discount.

Warehouse fire safety emphasised by Promat at Coventry event

by SafetyTrainingWarehouse

Promat focuses on warehouse fire safety at Tomorrow’s Warehousing event

“Effective fire protection should be built into the structure of a warehouse”

Promat Commercial Director Joshua Slack

Passive fire protection specialist Promat will highlight the need to protect warehouses against the risk of fire through the effective use of built-in solutions today at the Tomorrow’s Warehousing event.

Promat Commercial Director Joshua Slack will discuss the importance of built-in fire protection in warehouses.

He will address how these measures ensure the safety of buildings, occupants, and stock, ultimately protecting the supply chain from fire risks.

He will also explore the relationship between fire safety and the drive towards net zero.

He will discuss whether there needs to be a compromise on fire safety to achieve high environmental performance or if both goals can be met simultaneously.

Joshua Slack’s insights on passive fire protection

Joshua Slack said: “Effective fire protection should be built into the structure of a warehouse to protect the people within it, the contents of the building, and the structure itself.”

He elaborated on the benefits of passive fire protection solutions: “Passive fire protection solutions allow fires to be contained, provide time to escape – and give firefighters time to tackle a fire to prevent it spreading and to protect the integrity of the building.”

Slack emphasized the necessity of fire protection in warehouses: “For warehouses, in particular, having a demonstrated level of fire protection is essential to both protecting the stock being stored there but also in terms of ensuring the continuity of the supply chain and protecting against the expense and potential implications of a business disruption.”

Importance of fire safety in the context of new regulations

Joshua Slack noted the increased focus on fire safety across industries due to new regulations: “There has been an increased focus on the need for effective fire safety across all industries, especially with the introduction of the Building Safety Act and this event is a good forum to highlight the need for best practice to ensure adequate fire protection is in place for warehouses – but also look at how this fits into a wider ESG strategy.”

Promat’s participation at the event

The Tomorrow’s Warehousing event will be held today (20th June) in Coventry at the CBS Arena.

Promat will address fire protection during the ‘Warehouse Property’ panel discussion, taking place from 3:15pm.

Technical experts from Promat will also be present during the event to discuss passive fire protection solutions and provide insights into the systems the company can offer to protect buildings.

The wisdom of Whānau: What is the Ahikura Whānau-Centred Education Programme?

by Breaking NewsTraining

National Lead Sarah Grant and District Coordinator Jess Nesbit delve into the Ahikura programme, community engagement, and cultural responsiveness in fire safety

What is the Ahikura Whānau-Centred Education Programme?

Ahikura Whānau-Centered Education Programme aims to provide fire safety education for taiohi and their whānau (families).

Ahikura is less about intervening and more about educating the young person about the dangers of fire and how to be safe around it.

It’s more than just a safety course, we build meaningful relationships with taiohi and whānau to help them towards a brighter future.

What inspired the foundation of the Ahikura programme, and how has it evolved over the past 30 years?

The programme, originally known as Fire Awareness Intervention Programme (FAIP), was established to address the needs of children and young people, aged five to 17, who have shown an unhealthy interest in fire, such as bringing a lighter or matches to school to play with or watching unsafe fire videos online.

Importantly, children and young people were also becoming overrepresented in our fire deaths and injury stats as a result of playing with fire, so it was imperative that a concerted effort was made to address this.

Over the last three decades, FAIP has developed into a well-respected programme, building solid relationships within communities, and helping our children and young people get back on the right track.

However, by 2022, we were seeing a decrease in the number of children and young people being referred to us.

To understand this decline, we commissioned a research report from Victoria University in Wellington.

The report found several areas for improvement.

While the programme was incrementally updated from time to time to align with international best practices, a lot has changed since the programme’s inception.

We needed to better promote the programme and its benefits to children and young people, improve the accessibility and availability of information about Ahikura and provide continual training for our practitioners.

We also needed to improve our collaboration with referrers, broaden our engagement to include our cultural communities and refresh the programme content to be engaging, interactive and culturally responsive.

So, we’ve collaborated with practitioners, partner agencies, young people and their whānau to improve how the programme is delivered.

Ahikura is the result of this mahi.

We’ve renewed the programme’s commitment to taiohi and strengthened our engagement ethos to focus on building relationships and forming a close connection with the young people we work with to help them towards a more positive future.

How does Ahikura tailor its approach to accommodate the diverse needs of taiohi and their whānau across different ages and cultural backgrounds?

We play a short but important role in the lives of the taiohi we work with.

Through our education and our approach of treating young people as precious taonga (treasure) and upholding their mana (the right of a young person to have agency in their lives and the decisions that affect them), our programme helps to connect young people and their whānau to a safer future.

Right from the beginning, we show respect and work to build whanaungatanga (a relationship through shared experiences) and a connection by understanding the background, culture and needs of the taiohi and whānau we work with.

Whanaungatanga is an important foundation for learning and without it, our programme wouldn’t be as successful.

Once we’ve established whanaungatanga, we get into the mahi (work) of the programme.

We have dedicated resources for different age groups and for different learning abilities.

And to ensure our resources have the best chance of resonating with young people, we don’t share them outside of our sessions.

Can you share insights into the process of establishing trust and whanaungatanga with the families you work with?

First, we seek to understand as much as possible about the referral, so we can match the right Ahikura practitioner with the taiohi they’ll be working with.

When a practitioner arrives at the home of the whānau they’ll be working with, they observe the types of activities and interests the child or young person has.

This helps to create conversation and build rapport between all parties.

This is a key part of building the foundation and may happen quickly or it can take time.

No two cases are the same and the journey for one whānau can take longer than the journey for another; the important thing is allowing the practitioner to take the time needed to build trust.

For a child or young person and their whānau, the education session can be a stressful time, so our practitioners are trained to understand how the brain and body respond to stress and how to counteract that stress response.

This can include things like clearly explaining what is happening and what to expect, talking about what taiohi feel proud or confident about, involving movement or sensory activities such as drawing or playing a game.

During these activities, our practitioners sit alongside the young people they work with, rather than face to face, as this decreases danger signals taiohi may feel and signifies we’re equals in this journey.

This considered and personalised approach is what’s needed to create a sense of security and trust that’s so important to the success of the programme.

What are some of the common challenges you encounter when educating taiohi and their whānau about fire safety?

One of the biggest challenges we face as Ahikura practitioners is the initial contact with the whānau and them agreeing to a time for their taiohi to participate in the Ahikura programme.

Some of the families we work with are engaged with multiple agencies, and we don’t necessarily appear at the top of their list.

How do you measure the success of the Ahikura programme, and what feedback have you received from the communities involved?

There are several measures we’ve put in place to monitor the programme’s performance to ensure we deliver on the recommendations made by the Victoria University research.

It’s still relatively early days for Ahikura and we know it takes time to embed a new way of doing things amongst a large team of practitioners spread across the country, however, we’re already seeing improvements.

Since we’ve implemented a marketing strategy to reach both referrers and the general public, we’ve seen a 22% increase in referrals.

The rate of recidivism among young people is also an important indicator of our mahi.

In the 30+ years our programme has been running, less than ten percent of those who completed our programme continue with risky fire behaviour.

We are monitoring the numbers and hope to continue to reduce recidivism.

Since the launch of Ahikura, we’ve really focused on engaging with the social agencies we rely on to make the referrals.

It’s heartening to see that many of them, such as Oranga Tamariki, have integrated Ahikura into their processes to support their own practitioners to guide the taiohi they work with towards Ahikura, if that’s what’s needed.

This is good not only for the young people that haven’t yet engaged with us but also good for strengthening our relationships with our partners.

And of course, we are proud to receive positive feedback from taiohi we’ve worked with and their whānau once the programme has been completed.

In what ways does Ahikura collaborate with other agencies and organisations to support the whānau during and after the programme?

The Ahikura practitioners, supported by local Fire and Emergency personnel, work closely with partner agencies such as kura (schools), Police, Youth Aid and Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children), to raise awareness of the programme through various presentations and meet ups.

We’re on a continuous journey with the partner agencies we work with.

Building and maintaining relationships helps us to have a smooth transition when a child or young person is referred to Ahikura which helps reduce the potential stress and uncertainty that many whānau experience.

And, throughout the programme, if a practitioner feels that a family could benefit from further support from our partner agencies, they’ll talk to the whānau about who could help them and what the benefits would be.

 

Looking towards the future, how do you envision the Ahikura programme evolving to meet new challenges in fire education?

As we move forward on the Ahikura journey, we are continuously reviewing and evaluating the programme.

This involves working closely with our practitioners, partner agencies, taiohi and their whānau to ensure our approaches and resources are relevant and remain fit-for-purpose.

The Ahikura programme continues to grow and adapt to new challenges we face; whether it’s a worldwide pandemic or new behavioural issues emerging amongst the taiohi we work with, we adapt our approach and keep going.

Finally, for those interested in supporting or learning more about Ahikura, what advice would you give or what steps should they take?

Ahikura is an internationally renowned programme: we’ve collaborated with a wide range of similar programmes around the world and several fire services have used our resources and processes.

We’re happy to share what we’ve learnt.

To find out more about Ahikura, visit https://fireandemergency.nz/home-fire-safety/kids-and-parents/ahikura/  or reach out to ahikura@fireandemergency.nz

This article was originally published in the June 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here. 

Free health and safety webinar hosted by NEBOSH in India

by Featured NewsTraining

Nebosh’s initiative to promote health and safety careers

“Being a health and safety professional is a rewarding career choice.”

Matt Powell-Howard, NEBOSH

NEBOSH, the National Examination Board for Occupational Safety and Health, is set to host a free webinar aimed at promoting careers in health and safety in India.

As reported by NEBOSH, this initiative comes in response to alarming statistics from the Ministry of Labour & Employment’s Directorate General Factory Advice Service & Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), which revealed that between 2017 and 2020, an average of three people died and 11 were injured daily in India’s registered factories.

The webinar, titled “Health and safety in India: discover a rewarding career,” will provide insights into starting a career in health and safety.

It is designed to help participants understand how they can positively impact workplace safety and health.

Details of the webinar

The webinar will be presented by NEBOSH’s Matt Powell-Howard and Steve McLaughlin.

They will be joined by guest speakers Shyam Susivrithan and Ajay Thakur, who are health and safety professionals from India.

Matt Powell-Howard highlighted the benefits of a career in this field, saying: “Being a health and safety professional is a rewarding career choice; you can work in almost any industry and any country, helping to keep people safe and healthy in the workplace.

“This webinar will be a great opportunity to find out more.”

Scheduled for Thursday, 11 July 2024, at 10 am UK time/3.30 pm India Standard Time, the webinar’s agenda includes the importance of health and safety, an overview of NEBOSH qualifications, and advice from current health and safety professionals.

How to participate in the webinar

Interested individuals can register for free at www.nebosh.org.uk/india-osh-webinar.

The webinar will also be available on-demand, allowing participants to view it at their convenience.

Additionally, attendees will have the option to download a certificate of attendance, adding a formal recognition to their participation.

The event is an excellent opportunity for those interested in pursuing a career in health and safety to gain valuable information and guidance from experienced professionals in the field.

UK election campaign renews focus on technical apprenticeships

by Featured NewsFire EngineeringTraining

Government promises increase in apprenticeships

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has welcomed the renewed focus on technical apprenticeships triggered by the general election campaign.

The Conservative Party has pledged to deliver 100,000 ‘high skilled apprenticeships’ annually by the end of the next parliament as an alternative to university degrees, which it claims do not offer value for money or good employment prospects.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) estimates that one in five students, approximately 70,000 each year, would have been financially better off not attending university in terms of lifetime earnings.

The Office for Students reports that nearly 30% of graduates do not secure skilled employment or further education within 15 months of graduation.

The proposed government initiative would represent a 30% increase in new apprenticeship starters.

Labour’s apprenticeship and skills proposal

Labour has also introduced its own proposal, a ‘growth and skills levy’, which would allow employers to allocate up to half of the government funding they receive to train existing staff in high-level technical skills, including building retrofit and engineering.

The party has committed to reserving at least 50% of the training levy funds for apprenticeships and aims to create 150,000 traineeships for young people.

BESA has highlighted that while technical apprenticeships are valuable alternatives to degree courses, employers require significantly more financial support to accommodate the increased number of apprentices proposed.

According to the IFS, the training levy raises around £550 million more from larger employers than is currently allocated to apprenticeship funding.

BESA’s involvement in apprenticeship standards review

The Building Engineering Services Association, representing employers across the building services engineering sector, has recently collaborated with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) on a comprehensive review of apprenticeship standards.

The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed new funding arrangements for building services apprenticeships, including £12,000 a year for the new building services engineering (BSE) installer course, £17,000 for BSE craft person, and £18,000 annually for BSE service and maintenance apprentices.

These funding bands will take effect from the new academic year starting in August.

Helen Yeulet, BESA’s director of competence and compliance, said: “We are pleased to see technical apprenticeships getting high level political attention, which comes hot on the heels of the very positive funding news from the DfE.

“We have been working hard on behalf of our employers to update and improve apprenticeships to help plug the industry’s skills gap. Confirmation of funding is a huge step forward.”

The current state of BSE apprenticeships

According to DfE data, 15,570 apprentices started working in the BSE sector during the academic year up to last July, a 20% decrease from the previous year.

However, the BSE technician and professional categories experienced growth, albeit from a relatively low starting point.

The larger operative category saw a 9% decline.

BESA believes that recent changes to courses and the confirmation of government funding will encourage more employers to invest in apprenticeships in the coming years.

Yeulet added: “Apprenticeships offer great value for money and represent an excellent option for people of all ages looking to learn new skills and improve their employment prospects.

“We are encouraged that this is being debated by the main parties during the election and will continue to work with the new administration to turn the vision for a future powered by apprenticeships into reality.”

Read IFSJ’s exclusive interview with Xact on the advantages of apprenticeships in the fire sector.

Darren Ellis appointed as new Qualifications Manager at FireQual

by Featured NewsPeopleTraining

FireQual announces new Qualifications Manager

FireQual, the specialist awarding organisation for the fire safety sector, has announced Darren Ellis as their new Qualifications Manager.

As reported by BAFE, Darren Ellis is a recognised expert in the regulatory and qualification development sector, with over 15 years of teaching and training experience both nationally and internationally.

Ellis’s recent work includes supporting the creation of the Military Qualifications Centre (MQC) in Abu Dhabi, providing qualifications for the United Arab Emirates Safety, Defence, and Emergency and Crisis Management (SDEC) sectors.

Prior to this, he worked with the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) as their Qualifications, Compliance, and Assessment Manager.

Extensive regulatory experience

Darren Ellis also brings significant knowledge from his nine years of work in education regulation.

He has previously worked with the English regulator Ofqual and later assisted in establishing the new Welsh regulator, Qualifications Wales.

His contributions supported the development of regulatory requirements for awarding organisations, particularly the ‘Standard Conditions of Recognition’ for both countries.

Ellis stated: “I am excited and eager to be part of FireQual and to use my expertise and experience to support their strategic aims to maintain safety within the industry.

“With a lot of change on the horizon and growth within the sector, I will continue to work with our established and much valued stakeholders to ensure FireQual’s qualifications remain fit for purpose and have real currency.”

Support from FireQual leadership

Dr Justin Maltby-Smith, Group Managing Director of BAFE and FireQual, commented on the appointment: “Darren’s skills, knowledge and experience will support the aspirations of FireQual moving forward, including the ongoing development and growth of both new and existing qualifications.

“As Darren notes, we are on the precipice of change within the industry, where FireQual are confident that regulated qualifications will become part of the growing requirements to demonstrate knowledge to work within the life safety industry.

“His support during this time shall be extremely valuable and we welcome him to the team.”

Upcoming BAFE conference

Justin Maltby-Smith added: “Darren will be joining us at the BAFE Conference on 12 June 2024, so please do register if you wish to meet Darren and discuss regulated qualifications.

FireQual Board Member Jim Fitzpatrick will also be speaking on the topic of regulated qualifications on the day.”

The BAFE Conference 2024 is scheduled to be held at FSM Live on June 12 in Coventry.

Interested participants can register for a free ticket to attend.

Institution of Fire Engineers launches new Early Careers Networking Group

by Associations and OrganisationsBreaking NewsTraining

New initiative to support young professionals

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) has announced the launch of its Early Careers Networking Group (ECNG).

This new initiative aims to support budding talent in the field of fire engineering by offering young professionals and students insight into the wide range of vocations within the sector.

The group, hosted on LinkedIn, seeks to foster a supportive community where early-career individuals can thrive and explore fire engineering pathways.

The launch follows the publication of The Science Education Tracker 2023 by Engineering UK, highlighting concerns about the future workforce in STEM fields.

Addressing STEM workforce concerns

The Science Education Tracker 2023 survey, conducted by Engineering UK, raised significant concerns about the future STEM workforce.

The survey of over 7,000 young people in England revealed a pronounced gender gap and other challenges.

Only 12% of girls feel that being an engineer fits well with their identity, and just 16% believe an engineering career is suitable for them.

Furthermore, the survey noted the importance of practical science opportunities, particularly for less engaged students, with only 26% of GCSE students participating in practical work at least every fortnight.

Interest in science has declined, with 36% of girls stating that science is not for them. The ECNG aims to address these key factors.

Creating a supportive community for fire engineers

Dean Morris, chair of the ECNG, stated: “I think everyone looks back on their life with hindsight and thought about what they would do if they had their time over again.

“This group will offer a platform to share these experiences and offer advice to anyone that is new to the industry or who is thinking of joining.”

He added: “I really hope that it provides a safe space where people can ask questions but also network and meet like-minded people.

“Everyone is at different levels in their career and experience and had to start from somewhere, so creating a safe space is important for development and ensuring competency in the industry.”

International collaboration and mentorship

Steve Hamm, CEO of the IFE, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome the Early Careers Networking Group to the IFE’s portfolio of groups.

“Its output will address integral issues across the fire sector, ultimately benefitting our membership, further stakeholders, and shaping the future workforce.”

He continued: “Young people from around the globe will now have a space to collaborate and seek advice on an international scale; I believe it will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of fire engineering for budding talent.

“By offering a space to explore career options, we aim to bridge the gender gap and ignite a passion for fire engineering in young people within the UK and overseas.”

The IFE said it is committed to supporting and nurturing the next generation of fire engineers, ensuring they have the resources and guidance needed to succeed in their careers.

To join the Early Careers Networking Group, visit ECNG on LinkedIn.