Summary
In 2023, the FPA partnered with the Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAS) to become an Approved Learning Provider offering fire safety training courses for military personnel. The ELC scheme, part of the MOD, promotes lifelong learning amongst members of the armed forces by providing financial support for nationally recognised qualifications at Level 3 or above with an Approved Learning Provider.
Challenges
Without the financial support to be formally trained in a new discipline, it can be difficult for personnel to commence a new career outside of the armed forces when it comes to transitioning. The purpose of the ELC scheme is to support military personnel who are resettling and require training for a future career, and credits are also available to those who are in post if the course is relevant to their role.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Head of Training at the FPA, Kelly Donoghue said: “The FPA are thrilled to have partnered with ELCAS to support members of the armed forces to gain nationally recognised qualifications by ensuring they are financially accessible. Being able to undertake FPA qualifications enables service leavers to gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to transition into a secondary career in fire safety. We recognise there are many skills and behaviours gained during an individual’s military career that can be organically and successfully transferred to the fire safety industry.”
How the FPA helped
The FPA offers a wide variety of reputable fire safety CPD training courses and qualifications delivered by industry experts in the classroom, online, and at client premises. In line with FPA’s vision to continue to be the go-to authority in the field of fire protection, building resilience, and people safety through the promotion of fit-for-purpose training and development, the FPA joined the ELC scheme meaning that military personnel now have access to a range of fire safety qualifications to help them transition into a career within the fire safety sector.
The following FPA qualifications (both the online and class-based formats) are ELC-approved:
Scheme members must have completed six years’ eligible service to be entitled to the lower tier of funding, which is up to £1,000 per claim, and eight years’ eligible service for the higher tier of up to £2,000 per claim. Military personnel are entitled to make three ELC claims (one claim per year) in total.
In 2023, Former Army Officer James King Leggate completed the FPA’s Level 3 Award in Fire Door Inspection through the ELC scheme. This course is recognised by the National Association of Fire Door Inspectors (NAFDI) as an Advanced Training Course and enables learners to confirm occupational competence, providing the underpinning knowledge required to carry out fire door inspections. Over 3 days, the qualification guides learners through the types, function, and importance of a variety of fire doors, the industry standard inspection procedures, and the correct methods for carrying out a fire door inspection. The programme covers the requirements for timber fire doors, steel fire doors, glazed steel fire screens and roller shutter fire doors.
Looking back on the course, James said “I thoroughly enjoyed this course which was run by the Fire Protection Association who are an extremely professional company. Most of the course was classroom based, with a workshop for the practical side. There was 1 oral and 3 practical exams on the final day of the course, followed by 4 units of online work which have to be submitted within 3 weeks of the course finishing. The FPA’s facilities at the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire were outstanding and I definitely recommend this course to military personnel looking to pursue a career within fire safety.”
Results and future plans
Having successfully completed the Level 3 Award in Fire Door Inspection, James is now considering the progression opportunities he can undertake through the FPA with the 2024 credits available via the ELC scheme, such as a qualification in fire risk assessment or passive fire protection.
Find out more about the FPA’s ELC-approved qualifications.