Do you strive to help others and work well in a high-pressure environment? Start your new career or change roles with a Level 3 Business Fire Safety Advisor Apprenticeship. Taking under 24 months to complete, depending on the organisation, this apprenticeship can lead to many progression opportunities. By the end of the apprenticeship, apprentices will have a Level 3 certification in Fire Safety and experience in the industry.
Responsibilities of a Business Fire Safety Advisor Apprentice
This role consists of helping businesses keep their premises fire safe with the aim of preventing injuries and saving lives. There is a wide range of work for different businesses, a typical day includes assessing hazards and risks in simple premises to help protect premises and people. Simple premises are defined by the sector as ‘small buildings with a simple layout such as small shops, offices or industrial units with non-complex means of escape ‘. To be successful in this role, you must have excellent customer service and be able to do promotional and reactive work.
Entry Requirements for a Business Fire Safety Advisor Apprenticeship and progression opportunities
Entry requirements depend on the employer. The general requirement is that entrants have achieved a C or above in GCSE Mathematics and English and are ICT literate. There is an opportunity for everyone to enter this career path with employers able to select entrants they feel will succeed in the role. So, if this role feels right for you, don’t worry about your background! There are many opportunities for progression. This includes roles with the Fire and Rescue Services and other industries such as Fire Safety Risk Assessors, Fire Engineer, Fire Risk Managers and Fire Safety Inspector.
Business Fire Safety Advisor Apprentice Knowledge
Before completing your apprenticeship, you should have knowledge in the following areas:
- How to plan and gather information about simple premises to uphold fire safety regulations.
- Understand the purpose of fire safety regulations and the parameters for simple site visits.
- Know the principles for assessing fire risk, for example, emergency lighting.
- Relevant guidance for fire risk assessment.
- How to identify risks and hazards (relating to fire safety) and how to report them.
- Know which control measures can be used to reduce risk such as creating a safe means of escape.
- Knowing the guidance and legislation that protects people from fire.
- How to use processes to review fire protection systems.
- Technical knowledge on fire including the chemical knowledge of combustion, how fire grows and how smoke spreads.
Core Competencies and behaviours
During your apprenticeship, you will complete several competencies including:
- Conducting site visits effectively.
- Planning and preparing for simple site visits.
- Effectively communicating and working with others.
- Using ICT to support your work.
- Conforming to your organisation’s requirements.
- Working independently and staying organised.
- Understanding if a task is out of your remit and taking appropriate action.
- Advising on fire precautions to reduce risk.
- Reporting on the finding of site visits.
- Identifying and evaluating fire risks and hazards in a simple premises.
You will also learn the following behaviours:
- Treating people equally, fairly and ethically.
- Being able to regulate your emotions and being able to function in a high-pressure environment.
- Calmly responding to clients who may be frustrated.
- Completing work ahead of agreed deadlines.
- Committing to your organisation’s values.
- Clearly responding to stakeholders’ questions.
- Using sound judgement to make decisions and appropriately dealing with confidential data.
Conclusion
This accessible apprenticeship is an amazing opportunity for those who enjoy helping others. It can lead to several interesting career pathways including job roles and higher apprenticeships. Protective services roles such as Fire Safety are continually needed sectors which makes this role a secure option for the future.