Fire professionals are you ready?

We are in very challenging times, the economic consequences of which are likely to be far reaching. Like most businesses we are focusing on keeping our people and, of course keeping our families safe. However fire safety is essential work and we will come through this, and when we do there is important work to be done.

According to statista.com, the economy of the United Kingdom is expected to be in recession throughout 2020, following the Coronavirus outbreak and subsequent closure of many businesses. According to the forecast there will five quarters of negative growth, with the biggest contraction occurring in the second quarter of 2020, before growth will tentatively pick up again in Q2 2021.

However economic data is created with inputs from many different sectors, and one could imagine the diverse business environment covers everything from businesses that produce hand sanitiser or toilet roll to airlines and the hospitality sector. Businesses in different sectors will feel the pinch at different times and to differing degrees dependent on their offering and client base. Fire safety is essential works and there is much work to do, as soon as we can get back into buildings and onto site.

Keeping the upturn in mind

Like many businesses we've transitioned to home working and have embraced technology like never before. In some ways we are seeing people working more flexibly where childcare is an issue, but perhaps people starting earlier, breaking at points to do some coloring or a jigsaw and coming back to their desk a little later in the evening. We're using this time efficiently with the upturn in mind.

Getting our ducks in a row

So we are getting our ducks in a row. Speaking to clients and ensuring resources are in place for when we can get back to it in earnest.

Fire design and engineering

Our Regional Directors around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland will continue to build out their teams. We've on-boarded a lot of new talent in the later stages of 2019 and into Q1 2020. We are open to speculative applications for Senior / Associate Engineers based in Dublin or Warrington. We are open to speculative applications for graduates in Belfast and Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire because these teams have matured to the point that we are ready to take on graduates when the economic climate improves.

Fire safety assurance

Embedding fire safety through the construction process from RIBA stages 4/5 onwards. We undertake third party design reviews, technical design reviews and specialist surveying services focusing on passive fire protection, and of course facades / external walls. So in this area we will be seeking individuals with construction technology and building pathology knowledge. I know our Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire and Warrington locations will soon be in need of experienced professionals from either Building Control or passive fire backgrounds looking to make a career change and they would be happy to have early conversations.

Fire risk management

Finally we have a number of large FRA contracts in the pipeline and will be seeking independent, self-employed fire risk assessors that can undertake Type 4 fire risk assessments and intrusive surveys, or just traditional type 1 fire risk assessments. We will need fire risk assessors that have demonstrable experience in the housing sector, healthcare sector and education sector. keeping with the feathered animal analogies (ducks in a row), we appreciate that these professionals are as rare as hens teeth, however now is the time to open up a conversation if you are looking to take your career to the next level.

We are working from home, and ready for business.

Our Tom Welland pictured here is seeking to build our affiliate network nationwide and is keen to speak to individuals or even small firms that can support us, on the delivery of larger contracts.

Sadly at the present time we can only offer an initial exploratory conversation over the phone or a video call on TEAMS, ZOOM or Google Hangouts. Please feel free to send a speculative application to [email protected]

Fire professionals need to use this time wisely. There's important work to do and with monumental change on the horizon it's worth using this time wisely, to up-skill and attend that CPD session we might not have attended when things were busier. When the upturn comes, lets be ready to push forward.

We have a role to play in creating a safer, more secure and resilient built environment.