Nittan extends Fire Engineering Apprentice of the Year Award sponsorship

The latest recipient of the Fire Engineering Apprentice of the Year Award is Megan Davidson, who was presented with the trophy alongside 2020’s winner Adam Smylie. Unfortunately, Smylie was unable to collect his award last year due to COVID-19 restrictions necessarily imposed by the Government.

Stuart Rankin, deputy head of school for Construction, Engineering Services and Skills for Work at the SERC, explained: “Both of these students have represented the college and their employers at the regional and national levels. They’re excellent apprentices within the college and a real asset to their employers. Both were very deserving of the award. On behalf of the South Eastern Regional College, I would like to send my thanks to Nittan for its support and for arranging the ‘Nittan Shield’.”

Based in Northern Ireland, the SERC provides a wide range of courses, apprenticeships and professional development training. It enjoys close links with fire and security companies, enabling students and apprentices on relevant programmes to gain valuable knowledge and experience.

Tutored by fire and security lecturer Robin Hamill, the fire alarm apprenticeship programme requires students to attend the SERC one day per week for four years while working towards Level 2 and Level 3 City & Guilds qualifications in Electronic Security and Emergency Systems qualifications.

The Fire Engineering Apprentice of the Year Award was introduced last year to recognise the apprentice who has worked the hardest and excelled in all aspects, but it’s not necessarily the person who has the highest grades. The accolade has proven to be a welcome encouragement, which is one of the reasons why Nittan is extending its sponsorship until 2025.

Introduction process

Nittan was introduced to Robin Hamill at the SERC through its Elite Partner in Northern Ireland, namely Solutions for Systems (itself an independently owned business providing design, supply, installation, commissioning, integration and maintenance solutions for fire, security, electrical and satellite/aerial communication systems). Solutions for Systems enjoys a close working relationship with the SERC and has actively supported the fire and security engineering apprenticeships by helping lecturers to develop demonstration models and promote the programmes.

Both Nittan and Solutions for Systems have contributed £100 each in gift vouchers for the Fire Engineering Apprentice of the Year Award winners.

While the trophy and prize recognise the achievement of one particular stand-out apprentice each year, all apprentices benefit from Nittan’s sponsorship through the range of fire detection products it has supplied to the college for students to learn and practice on. These include the Evolution EVC-P optical detectors with internal current limiting resistor and the award-winning Nittan Evolution EVC-DP detectors with dual optical technology designed to reduce false alarms caused by non-combustion products such as steam, dust and aerosols.

Heat detectors, detector bases, sounders, beacons and mounted Call Points have also been supplied. To provide students with the full system experience on which to train, fire alarm control panels have been supplied by Solutions for Systems.

Vital training resources

Steve McCarley, Nittan’s regional sales manager for the North, has worked closely with both the SERC and Solutions for Systems to ensure the college has the products it needs to train the apprentices and help to propel the Fire Engineering Apprentice of the Year Award.

McCarley stated: “Now more than ever, we need to ensure that young people have the training resources they need to be able to learn and develop their skills. The fire industry represents a good career choice. Engineers are always in demand. We really value the great work being done by the SERC, and indeed by our Elite Partner installers such as Solutions for Systems who take the time to support the apprentices.”

*Further information is available online at www.nittan.co.uk