21st century vision

THE FIRE protection sector is a dynamic one, with frequent changes in technology and legislation. It is safety critical to set standards reflecting best practice and methods that adapt to growth in business opportunities. In addition, it is important to constantly monitor the need to equip individuals and organisations directly involved in the various sub sectors of the industry with appropriate skills and training.

 

Since the fire sprinkler evolved into a mass market product in the late 19th century, it has delivered many benefits. Fire sprinkler systems have saved lives, quelled countless fires, boosted economic growth, increased flexibility of building design and given firefighters that bit of deserved relief. No wonder people look to the fire sprinkler as ‘the firefighter in every room’, which is changing the way modern buildings are constructed and used.

 

Staff competency

 

But as is the case with many other industries, the fire sprinkler industry brings many challenges – a future one being an ageing workforce. As people retire from the industry, they take their skills, knowledge and vast experience with them. With little or no widespread industry-led focus on the development of skills and qualifications, there is an urgent need to attract a new generation of people into all areas including installation, design, project management and maintenance. This ensures that the workforce remains fit for purpose and ready for the challenges ahead.

 

BAFSA has already identified a shortage of young people and the industry must raise its profile to show those looking for job opportunities that the fire sprinkler industry is a career with clear career pathways, offering potential recruits a glimpse of its diverse range of opportunities.

 

At the forefront of BAFSA activities are qualification and training development to make sure that our continued promotion of the benefits of sprinklers is not wasted. Developing a qualification strategy for the sprinkler industry has been key to offering opportunities leading to a workforce that is fit for purpose, equipped for the 21st century and able to meet the challenges and business development opportunities ahead. Based on research and employer consultation, BAFSA’s Skills and Qualification Strategy outlines the vision for the future of qualifications and learning in fire sprinkler installation and will drive the development of vocational qualifications, ensuring demand-led development of installer qualifications across all four UK nations.

 

In 2011, BAFSA instigated the development of the first National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the Mechanical Fire Sector – a freely available management tool providing statements of competence for individuals working within the sector. Developed with industry representatives and available from the BAFSA website, the standards clearly state what is required in terms of performance and knowledge, and provide the building blocks for the future development of national qualifications.

 

Level 2 Certificate

 

The National Assembly for Wales passed new regulations in October 2013 that require a fire sprinkler system to be installed in new and converted houses and flats. In support of this regulation, BAFSA developed in partnership with Neath Port Talbot College Group an award in the installation of automatic fire sprinklers. This was signposted to the above NOS, delivers a qualification for the active fire industry and over a four day period introduces qualified and experienced plumbers to the practical skills and knowledge required for installing automatic fire sprinkler systems in domestic dwellings. This year has seen a second college, Llandrillo College, offer the award.

 

In recognition of the relatively unstructured approach to training within the fire industry as a whole and following the development of the NOS, BAFSA invested significant funding and worked over a two year period with an awarding organisation (IQ) and two colleges – Neath Port Talbot College Group and The Manchester College – to oversee the successful development and delivery of a competency based industry qualification mapped against the existing industry standards.

 

IQ Level 2 Certificate in Fire Sprinkler Installation (QCF) has no formal entry requirements and is intended for new and recent recruits to develop the knowledge and competencies necessary to meet the industry standards for the fire sprinkler installation role. In order to achieve it, the learner must: 

Assessment for all units in this qualification is by a portfolio of evidence (internally set and marked, and quality assured by IQ) that demonstrates the learner’s knowledge and understanding, or consistent performance in the workplace as indicated in the unit specifications. Assessment must meet the requirements of the assessment principles of the BAFSA assessment strategy.

 

Currently, the qualification is being delivered at three colleges – Neath Port Talbot, Llandrillo College and The Manchester College. The course is expected to run over a period of 36 weeks (classroom and work based) and must be completed within a 12 month period. Each college offers the opportunity of day or block release, with the next courses commencing in October 2016. While at this moment there is no delivery of the qualification in the south of England or Scotland, BAFSA intends the qualification to be available at further centres in due course. In respect of qualification delivery, we are still in the early days and need to satisfy potential deliverers that we have the necessary intake of students to ensure viability. BAFSA would be pleased to hear from any organisation that would like to register an interest in the qualification.

 

With the development and launch of the Level 2 Certificate in Fire Sprinkler Installation successfully achieved, BAFSA remains focused on its encouragement of fellow members, non BAFSA members and sub contractors to actively support the qualification by enrolling candidates onto it, thus helping to keep it relevant. The journey of education embarked on requires continued input to ensure that BAFSA and the members’ vision remains at the heart of future developments.

 

Level 3 plans

 

In the not too distant future and building on the Level 2 qualification, BAFSA will develop a Level 3 qualification with a much wider scope and depth of knowledge. This will appeal to those who have achieved the Level 2 qualification, those experienced in installation skills and those who have an element of supervisory experience or team leadership.

 

However, addressing the recruitment shortage and expanding recruitment opportunities for those seeking work experience or employment is an area of importance not just for BAFSA, but for the entire fire protection sector. Working with employers and training providers to develop specific sub sector qualification frameworks and pathways that clearly communicate the learning opportunities available to both those who already work within the sector and those considering a career in this varied sector is now essential. A broad reaching sector-wide initiative would radically change the landscape of vocational qualifications available to those looking to move into sustainable employment with good career opportunities.

 

Integrated fire protection is an ever emergent characteristic of the fire protection industry, which provides scope for collective skills, learning, and accreditation, enabling transferability between sub sectors. It also means that many people working in the sector are ex-fire service personnel who bring high level skills that are not necessarily accredited by qualification. This feature also extends to management. the appointment of managers appears to be based on high level specialist skills rather than qualifications, and it would seem that many managers acquire professional membership and status rather than accredited qualifications.

 

A sector qualification strategy would ensure that the qualifications and other learning programmes available across the UK are more effective in equipping people with the skills that employers want and that learners need to secure and maintain employment. In so doing, it will contribute to the UK’s business productivity by ensuring that employers are able to make the most of the skills of their employees.

 

Accurate information about sector-specific needs and requirements will be fundamental to ensuring that the appropriate mix of provision (qualifications, training and other learning experiences) is available to learners. Almost two decades into the 21st century has seen a subtle shift from academic qualification as a signifier of skills. Modern careers are all about competencies and experience, and there is no better way to demonstrate these than through vocational qualifications.  

 

In conjunction with the development of nationally recognised qualifications, the importance of establishing a clear career pathway within the industry should not be underestimated – particularly if the industry is to attract a new generation of young people.

 

BAFSA has already established that there is a shortage of young people within the fire sprinkler industry and focus is now needed to ensure the industry raises its profile to show those looking for job opportunities that the fire sprinkler industry is a career to look forward to. While BAFSA has developed a career pathway in respect of fire sprinkler installation, establishing industry- specific career pathways would offer potential recruits a glimpse of the diverse range of opportunities across the entire sector.

 

Training and development can play a significant part in the opportunities open to people and therefore the ways in which they can carve out their career path. Choosing a career path can help set professional goals and develop a strategy for getting where you want to be. Part of choosing an appropriate career path involves making an honest self-evaluation of talents, abilities and interests. While elements of a chosen path may change over time due to choice or circumstance, having an overall professional objective will help guide you in making critical decisions with greater clarity. Understanding the requirements of a chosen path will allow you to plan and prepare yourself for the career you want.

 

However, there is no quick fix when addressing either workplace competency or recruitment requirements and, if they are to ensure that strategy or development is meaningful and of value to the sector, key organisations and associations must make time for the necessary discussions with industry representatives and the opportunities for cross sector collaboration that may bring innovation and progress. 

 

At BAFSA, the journey of education continues with the possibility of a career transition pathway beckoning and it is still working to turn a vision into reality.

 

Ruth Oliver is skills and qualifications advisor at BAFSA.