Churches Fire & Security, a national provider of fire safety and security services, has launched an internal Training Academy to progress careers, and train out-of-industry employees.
Developed to fill the skills gap in the fire and security industry, structured hands-on learning and classroom sessions are delivered to existing Churches employees and those new to the trade.
Current employees learning through the Churches Academy have made the transition from full-time fire extinguisher technicians to expand their knowledge to include the systematic workings of fire and intruder alarm systems.
Through the training at the Academy, more multi-skilled technicians are available to visit customer sites to maintain extinguishers, fire and intruder alarms.
Employees new to the industry learn the mechanisms of fire extinguishers during the first month of their training, observing existing technicians on customer sites as they maintain and service. Following the on-the-job training, the new recruits learn from a regional training centre.
In order to meet the growing demand for skilled experts, four to five months of dedicated learning, showcasing how fire and security systems work, is taken on by the students.
Existing employees with an already extensive knowledge of fire extinguishers move to classroom learning where they are taught by their peers how to install, service and maintain alarm systems.
Technical Service Managers deliver hands-on knowledge to the trainees over four months, designed to equip them with all they need to be experts in the field. In-depth lessons are given on the British Standards to ensure all learners have a comprehensive understanding of the requirements.
Out-of-industry students learn hands-on in month one, then move to classroom lessons during months two to five.
The students’ development and regional location relevant to workload will determine the discipline best suited to them; fire or intruder alarms. Upon completion of the module-based program, students will possess a level three qualification, as recognised by the Fire Industry Association (FIA) and will begin their careers as fully trained Electrical Systems Technicians.
Apprentices from acquisitions are encouraged to continue their learning through the Academy, with sign off by the Technical Service Managers once all learning is completed.
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