Siemens, a global leader in technology solutions, has shown its dedication to developing the fire engineers of tomorrow by providing fire control panels to Banham Academy, the leading specialist training provider in the Level 3 Fire Emergency & Security Systems apprenticeship scheme in England.

Siemens engineers are among the current 135 apprentices enrolled from 53 employers undertaking the apprenticeship at Banham Academy, which offers a 15-week coursework and training programme at its educational training centres over a three-year period. Successful completion of the course sees apprentices awarded an Electrotechnical Certifications (ECS) ID card and the letters ENG Tech TMIET after their name, providing them with valuable credentials for their future careers. Employers also benefit from having their employees officially recognised and accredited by the IET as engineering technicians, giving them a competitive edge in the workforce.

Practical sessions using the technologies that engineers will encounter in their day-to-day work are central to the apprenticeship programme. Siemens has supplied two panels from its Cerberus FIT FC360 range of compact addressable fire control panels for use at Banham Academy’s two locations in London and Derby, with further panels to be supplied in the coming months to extend availability to the apprentices.

Kevin Faulkner, Operations Director and Safeguarding Lead at Banham Academy, said: “Training remains a vital component in ensuring that we have a sustainable future for our industry. Commitment from manufacturers is fundamental, as it allows us to train the apprentices on the equipment they will face, enabling them to gain real-life experience and become familiar with developments in technology and how it is applied in actual systems. Banham Academy is grateful to Siemens for their ongoing support in enabling the next generation of engineers to train on the most relevant and highest quality systems to further enhance their learning.”

Rob Yates, Siemens Head of Building Products Fire Safety in the UK and Ireland, said: “We recognise the importance of training, from the engineers installing the systems to the customers using them. Our work with Banham Academy is an illustration of our commitment to external training providers. Our Cerberus FIT FC360 systems are operating in a wide range of applications, and we offer guarantees against false alarms with our ASAtechnology™ detectors. This is only possible if our systems are installed by engineers who really understand the technologies and how important it is to recognise the environment that the system is protecting.”

IFSJ Comment

Siemens’ supply of fire control panels to Banham Academy demonstrates its commitment to helping develop the skills of the next generation of fire engineers, ensuring that they are trained on the most up-to-date and relevant systems available. The partnership between Siemens and Banham Academy is a shining example of how manufacturers and training providers can work together to build a sustainable future for the industry.