From fire safety novice to industry expert: How Elevate is shaping the next generation of professionals

Dean Morris, Chair of the IFE’s Early Careers Networking Group, explains how Elevate helps fire professionals build knowledge, confidence, and connections through structured CPD

The Institution of Fire Engineers Early Careers Networking Group (ECNG) has launched Elevate, a professional development series designed to support early-career fire professionals by offering structured, accessible CPD.

Over a 24-month programme, participants will engage in fortnightly sessions led by industry experts and academics, covering a broad range of fire safety disciplines.

The initiative, created with support from the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) and the London Fire Brigade (LFB), aims to address the skills gap in the sector and promote ongoing professional development.

With sessions available globally and at no cost, Elevate is set to offer early career professionals a comprehensive learning experience, helping organisations strengthen internal training programmes while equipping individuals with the knowledge and confidence to progress in their careers.

The first session, scheduled for 2nd April 2025, coincides with National Careers Week and will introduce fire science fundamentals, including heat transfer and fire load principles.

We spoke with Dean Morris, Chair of the IFE’s Early Careers Networking Group, to understand the importance of this initiative, how it supports industry development and what participants can expect.

Can you introduce yourself and explain your role within the IFE?

Absolutely, I’m Dean Morris, and I have the privilege of chairing the IFE’s Early Careers Networking Group – my role focuses on championing the next generation of fire professionals, providing space for them access the resource, networks, and opportunities they need to build successful careers.

As we all know, it’s a fast-moving sector, and staying ahead of developments in fire safety is critical—both for individuals and the wider industry.

This was a key driver for the Elevate series.

What is the Elevate programme and why has the IFE decided to launch it now?

Elevate is a structured, 24-month professional development series designed to make high-quality fire safety CPD accessible, engaging, and relevant for early career professionals.

Delegates can register for individual sessions that suit their interests or commit to the full series for a comprehensive learning experience.

We recognised the huge appetite for learning in the sector, and the need for access to structured, high-quality CPD – especially for those just starting out.

The skills gap is widening, and we need to ensure the next generation of fire professionals are equipped with the right knowledge and confidence to excel.

The programme has brought together industry experts from varied organisations which shows the importance of an initiative like this and the common understanding that competence needs to be improved.

and who better to do that than ourselves.

How does Elevate address the skills gap in the fire safety sector?

One of the biggest challenges in fire safety is keeping abreast of evolving standards, technology, and best practices—especially for those new to the industry.

Elevate directly tackles this by offering consistent, expert-led sessions that cover core fire safety principles as well as more advanced topics.

By delivering bite-sized, practical CPD, we’re making sure professionals can apply the full scope of practical Fire Engineering, boosting both individual competence and industry-wide capability.

Who is the programme designed for and how can professionals benefit from taking part?

The beauty of the programme is that it’s designed for anyone in the early stages of their fire safety career—whether they’re fire engineers, fire risk assessors, building control professionals, firefighters, or specialists in passive and active fire protection.

Participants will not only gain valuable knowledge from leading experts, but they’ll also build confidence, grow their networks, and develop a strong foundation for career progression.

Plus, it’s completely free—so there’s no barrier to getting involved!

With so many disciplines in fire safety, how did you decide which topics to cover in the sessions?

It was a challenge, for sure! Fire safety / Engineering is such a broad field, but we wanted to ensure Elevate delivers a well-rounded, structured learning experience.

We focused on core principles—fire science, legislation, and risk assessment—before moving into more specialised areas like passive and active fire protection, human behaviour in fire, and new technologies in fire safety.

The aim is to build knowledge progressively, so each session naturally leads into the next, creating a cohesive learning journey.

The programme is free and open to professionals worldwide—what impact do you hope this accessibility will have on the industry?

The impact could be huge and by making Elevate free and available globally, we’re breaking down barriers to high-quality fire safety CPD.

Legislation topics will be UK centric but provide global lessons and serve as a quality resource for those overseas.

More professionals, regardless of location or financial constraints, can access industry-leading knowledge, helping to drive up standards not just in the UK, but worldwide.

It also encourages cross-border collaboration, uniting different perspectives and experiences that can enrich learning for everyone involved.

How can organisations integrate Elevate into their existing training and development strategies?

Elevate is designed to be flexible and complementary to existing training, and organisations can use it to supplement in-house training programmes, introduce structured CPD for early-career professionals, or support team members preparing for professional qualifications.

As the sessions are regular, focused, and accessible, they fit neatly into any professional development framework—whether it’s part of formal training plans or simply encouraging staff to engage in ongoing learning.

How can experienced professionals contribute to Elevate?

We’re actively looking for industry experts, fire engineers, and specialists who want to give back to the profession by delivering sessions as guest speakers.

If you have expertise in a particular area of fire safety and want to support early-career professionals, we’d love to hear from you.

Sharing your knowledge can directly help shape the next generation of fire professionals and strengthen the industry.

Looking ahead, how do you see Elevate shaping professional development within the fire safety sector?

I genuinely believe that Elevate has the potential to revolutionise professional development in the fire industry.

By making learning more structured, accessible, and engaging, we’re ensuring early-career professionals get the best possible start.

Over time, this will help raise industry standards, close skills gaps, and inspire more people to pursue careers in fire safety.

We’re committed to continually evolving Elevate, responding to feedback, and ensuring it remains relevant and impactful.

I’m incredibly excited to see how it grows and how it helps shape the future of fire safety training!

The first Elevate session takes place on 2nd April 2025—if you’re an early-career fire professional (or know someone who would benefit), be sure to sign up and get involved.

🔥 Want to attend? Register here: (https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/ife-ecng-elevate-webinar-series-3910873?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=creatorshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=odclsxcollection&utm-source=cp&aff=escb)
🎤 Interested in speaking? Check out the speaker brochure: (INSERT LINK)
🔗 Stay connected with the IFE ECNG: (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13003563/)