BDS Fire & Security Limited (www.bdsfireandsecurity.com), an independent family run fire and security installer with head office in Hackbridge, Surrey, is taking part in a new apprenticeship scheme to train the next generation of fire safety engineers.
Caprice Green, aged 19, has been employed by BDS for the past 18 months, attending a local college while working within their Projects and Service Departments.
She has now joined the Get Fired Up scheme created by fire alarm manufacturers Gent by Honeywell.
She is beginning a two-year Fire Engineering NVQ course at Uxbridge College as one of 28 students on the apprenticeship scheme nationwide.
Caprice will divide her time between college, gaining a theoretical grounding, while acquiring practical experience through working for BDS as part of the network of approved System Integrators who install Gent products in buildings
across the region.
Kevin Blyde, Managing Director said: “The Get Fired Up scheme is great for apprentices such as Caprice because it gives them the first step on their career ladder while studying and gaining practical experience.
“We are taking part in this scheme and employing Caprice because we understand the importance of training the engineers who are the future of our industry. With Gent’s involvement it also gives them access to the latest fire alarm equipment for hands-on learning, helping to bridge that gap between completing the qualification and a career.”
The scheme has been designed by Gent to support the Fire Industry Association’s (FIA) objective to create a more definitive career structure in the industry.
It is targeted at technically minded school leavers from the age of 16 and above looking to gain skills and qualifications, while earning money as they train.
Dina Mistry, the Get Fired Up scheme manager for Gent, said: “The fire and security industry is a serious business as it supplies the skills and tools that contribute to saving people’s lives.
“At Gent, we are acting to meet a deficiency of qualified fire service engineers by identifying young and enthusiastic apprentices such as Caprice. They are the future of the industry so we are doing everything possible to ensure they receive the right training and experience to become skilled engineers.
“The Get Fired Up scheme tackles a major industry issue, providing opportunities for work-based apprenticeships and training throughout the UK. We are very grateful for the support of our SIs and the colleges to help make this idea a reality.” There are 15 companies and six colleges throughout the UK, Scotland and Ireland involved with training apprentices on the Get Fired Up scheme.
Skills for Security, the industry Sector Skills Council, has worked with Gent to ensure the Knowledge of Security and Emergency Alarm Systems (1852) course is delivered by colleges to meet industry standards. Students on the course will work towards an NVQ Level 2 assessed by City & Guilds, with an option to continue to Level 3. During the second year of the course, the apprentices will be treated to an Education Day at Gent’s head offices in Leicester, where they will see first hand the development and manufacture of the company’s fire systems to gain a greater understanding of the product.
Gent is recruiting apprentices on behalf of its System Integrator customers to join the scheme in 2009. Potential applicants must be motivated, enthusiastic, willing to learn and must have the equivalent of four GCSEs or expected passes at Grade A-C in Maths, English, IT and a Science related subject.
