Please introduce yourself and tell us about your career to date.
I’m Mia Ferneyhough, Fire Safety Advisor at Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service. I am currently employed as an apprentice which I started in September 2024. My job role sits within the protection department and I cover Herefordshire.
Describe your apprenticeship role within your current workplace and describe what a typical working day looks like.
Although I am an apprentice, my typical working day does look very similar to that of a Fire Safety Inspector as I am assigned a workplace mentor. Due to the nature of the role, my working hours can vary along with my work location. My day usually starts with a catch up with my workplace mentor to discuss the day ahead. I will then prepare for any inspections that we have by looking at any history on file and ensure that I have everything I need ready in my folder. We will then spend the day completing inspections and then the relevant paperwork afterwards. The premises we inspect can vary from office and shops to care homes, schools and blocks of flats. If there has been a fire at any premises where the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies, we will also complete a post-fire inspection.
Although this does not happen on a typical working day, I do attend multi-agency target enforcement visits. On these visits, we attend various premises that have been identified by other agencies such as the police, immigration or trading standards where we will be checking for compliance with the Fire Safety Order and checking for any illegal sleeping.
What were your main reasons for choosing an apprenticeship over other educational or career routes (e.g., university, full-time work)?
I didn’t choose specifically to do an apprenticeship as I have previously been to university and got a BSc (Hons) in Forensic Investigation – however, I knew that I wanted to have a career with the fire and rescue service in fire safety. When the opportunity arose for a career in my chosen path, it was a bonus that the role was an apprenticeship. The apprenticeship gives me the opportunity to gain a relevant qualification whilst learning on the job.
What specific skills or knowledge do you feel you’ve gained through your apprenticeship that will help you in your long-term career?
Being an apprentice has given me the opportunity to see how the fire and rescue service works as a whole. I have had the chance to see what happens in other departments to gain a full understanding of the fire service. This allows me to see how my work can impact other departments, enabling me to get a greater understanding of my work and seeing what happens from start to finish.
Is there any advice you would pass on to someone considering doing an apprenticeship?
Enjoy it! Make the most out of the opportunity you have by gaining such a valuable qualification and learning the job role whilst earning a salary.
Are there any particular challenges or unusual aspects to your apprenticeship role?
Even though I am on the apprenticeship programme, I do have the opportunity to attend other training courses provided by my employer that are relevant to my job and are not covered by the apprenticeship. These courses are offered to the whole department; therefore, my employer is ensuring that I have the same learning experience as the other inspectors.
What do you find most enjoyable about your apprenticeship role?
As someone who enjoys learning, a great thing about being on an apprenticeship is the balance of studying and ‘doing’. Every couple of months I will be on a course with the apprenticeship provider studying modules that cover various aspects such as the Principles of Fire Safety, Means of Escape, Fire Safety in Complex Buildings including licenced premises, Building Regulations and Enforcement.
Following on from my course, I have coursework to complete and I allocate time accordingly to complete this during my working hours. I also get the chance to attend inspections, lead on inspections, do multi-agency targeted enforcement visits, and put all of the knowledge I am gaining from my courses into practice.
Is there a great professional achievement or high-profile accomplishment that you would like to tell us about in your apprenticeship role?
I have attended multi-agency visits that have been released to the local news reporters which have shown excellent outcomes from working with other agencies and fines that have been issued as a result of those visits. It is a great personal achievement to know that the work we are doing has such a positive impact on the local community.
How has being an IFE student member supported your development during your apprenticeship? (e.g., resources, networking, learning opportunities)
The IFE offer relevant learning opportunities that support and enhance my acquisition knowledge. I am someone who ‘learns by doing’, so seeing practical examples and case studies assist with my learning.
Would you recommend joining the IFE as a Student member to others? If so, why?
Yes, I would. There are lots of resources and webinars available that are relevant to your learning. They are easily accessible and are hosted by knowledgeable and enthusiastic people.