Apprentice Fire Fighter Review

Each day isn't the same. A lot of the time we are doing drills to keep up our skills we gained on a 12 week intensive course at the start of our training. We take part in a lot of exercises with the current shifts to gain experience for when we go onto shifts as well. Other to that we go to the gym 3-4 times a week to keep fit for our job and learn about the site.

We have gained numerous skills so far from our intensive course and also on site. Besides fire and rescue skills we have done a number specific courses such as, working at height, iosh, swift water resuce, first aid and also immediate emergency care. Site specific courses we have done as well include the use of resilience equipment such as mass decontamination tents and flood defence equipment

Love it. To do a job that is mainly practical and that makes you maintain a high standard of fitness as well as gaining a lot of skills that can be transferred to the outside world is something that I always wanted to do. Also with every day being different it keeps it interesting.

The programme is very well organised and structured. Although we have done a 12 week intensive fire fighting course we are still working towards a 2 year skills for justice apprenticeship which has assessments at different intervals 6,12,18 and a final assessment at 24 month. We have folders to add evidence and support us passing our assessments.

We receive a lot of support from our employer. Anything we need help with they are always there to help and assist us weather its work related or not. Also they provide numerous uniforms for us and if there's ever anything wrong there is never a problem exchanging it for a new set.

I receive a lot of support from my training provider. Anything I need help with they are always there to assist me and don't mind going out there way to help me and assist me to enable me to do well and achieve my qualification and pass my course

I feel like the qualification helps you a lot to perform better in your role because some of the training we receive is theory as well so we learn about the science behind fire and the methods for why we do things in a certain way which is good to know.

We have done team building activities in the lake district such are orienteering and abseiling which was good for team building because everyone was new to the course and didn't really know each other well. As well as being good for team building it was also something that I would never of done without being on this course

Yes

I would recommend this to a friend because its a job that's different everyday which keeps you on your toes and a job has the full support of the training provider. Also with the skills you gain for the outside world as well I couldn't think of a better job.

Advice I would give to others applying for this role would be to work hard and make sure its the job for you by for example going to your local fire station and asking for a guide around and also get a example of there day to day roles and duties. Maintaining a high level of fitness would also be advised because its a demanding job