Training for a safer tomorrow: Skills for Security addresses workforce gaps
Iain Hoey
Share this content
With legal responsibilities expanding, Skills for Security outlines how targeted training supports competence, career progression and public confidence in fire safety leadership
One guaranteed topic of conversation across the fire safety sector is the persistent and deepening skills shortage.
There simply aren’t enough qualified individuals entering the profession with the technical and regulatory knowledge required to meet rising expectations.
Many who are already working in the wider built environment are too broadly skilled to specialise in fire safety or find it difficult to keep pace with rapidly evolving standards and responsibilities.
This shortage isn’t simply a pipeline issue, says David Scott, Managing Director of Skills for Security.
Legislative pressure driving demand
Recent legislation has transformed the way fire safety is defined, enforced and managed.
The Fire Safety Act 2021, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and the Building Safety Act 2022, introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy and its public inquiry, represent the clear change in direction.
They set out specific legal duties for individuals and organisations, replacing broad conformity with detailed requirements that must be understood and followed in strict compliance.
Competence has taken on greater importance.
Specialist fire safety roles are now expected to understand the law, apply it and make informed decisions.
This calls for up to date knowledge, practical skills and the ability to adapt to new risks, smart technologies and regulations as they emerge.
Raising the bar for competence
Becoming embedded within the wider culture of building safety, the shortage of qualified individuals is increasingly evident.
Building managers, duty holders, fire engineers and Responsible Persons must combine knowledge of fire behaviour with a clear understanding of legislation, design principles and the potential consequences of failure.
Technical expertise, practical application and regulatory compliance are now inseparable.
In practice, this could mean a fire engineer applying knowledge of how fire spreads within a specific structure while ensuring designs meet updated compartmentation requirements.
A building manager may need to confirm that evacuation procedures align with best practice and meet specific legal obligations for different categories of residents.
These responsibilities call for targeted, accredited training, but they come at a time when the workforce is already under significant strain.
A workforce under pressure
Public and private organisations, including fire and rescue services, local authorities, housing associations and private building managers, are experiencing growing difficulties in recruiting and retaining skilled professionals.
Many experienced staff are approaching retirement, creating the risk of losing valuable knowledge and practical insight.
Workloads are rising as buildings become more integrated, regulations more demanding and resources more limited.
The sector suffers from a perceived lack of structured career development routes, making it harder for individuals to identify progression opportunities or gain the training needed to advance.
This can deter new entrants and lead to higher turnover among existing staff.
Fire safety has also historically struggled to attract a broad and diverse range of applicants.
While this is slowly changing, there is a need to widen participation.
Encouraging interest from underrepresented groups, younger entrants and people seeking a career change will bring fresh perspectives, wider skill sets and greater resilience.
It will also help ensure the profession reflects the communities it serves and creates visible role models for the next generation.
Improving access means providing structured, supported routes into and through the profession.
Apprenticeships, conversion programmes and advanced technical training must be flexible, accessible and designed to achieve necessary outcomes with clear career progression opportunities.
Someone moving from a construction background may benefit from a blended programme that builds on existing knowledge while addressing the unique requirements of fire safety.
For school leavers, an apprenticeship that combines academic study with hands on experience can offer a clear and attractive career pathway.
The role of training in building resilience
Education is at the heart of strengthening the profession.
Structured, nationally recognised training is the most effective way to develop competence, support career growth and instil confidence in those responsible for safeguarding lives and property.
Training needs to reflect the complexity of life safety demands.
It should be rooted in practical application, aligned with current legislation and assessed in ways that validate both theoretical understanding and real world experience.
Professionals must be able to move beyond learning concepts to applying them confidently in varied and often challenging situations.
Flexibility is essential, particularly for those already in demanding roles.
Courses that can be designed to fit around work commitments while maintaining high standards, credible qualifications and meaningful outcomes.
Modular learning, online delivery and realistic practical assessments help ensure that training remains accessible.
Qualifications that define standards
Recognised qualifications play a vital role in setting expectations, defining professional standards and creating consistency across the sector.
They give clarity on what competence looks like and help both individuals and organisations work towards the same benchmarks.
For qualifications to have impact, they must align with the frameworks of respected industry bodies such as the National Fire Chiefs Council, the Institution of Fire Engineers, the Institute of Fire Safety Managers and the Fire Industry Association.
These organisations establish the standards by which competence is measured and validated.
Regulators, insurers and clients are increasingly focused on demonstrable competence.
They want to know that those responsible for life safety have the training, skills and judgement to act effectively.
Qualifications that meet national standards offer this assurance and contribute to a more accountable and resilient industry.
Working together for long term impact
Meeting current and future fire safety needs will require collaboration across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Regulators, training providers, employers and professional bodies all have a role in identifying skills gaps, developing relevant qualifications and creating opportunities for continuous learning.
Skills for Security is already evolving schedules to ensure qualifications match the demands of careers in fire safety, whilst ensuring courses are accessible to a wide range of learners.
They will enable professionals to gain both the theoretical understanding and the confidence to apply it in complex ‘real’ situations.
Courses in development cover fire risk assessments, legislative compliance, evacuation planning, and human behaviour in fire scenarios, whilst offering practical skills grounded in current legislation.
More advanced opportunities support those who need to inspect and regulate buildings with fire risk in mind.
Modules in design include building construction, risk analysis, enforcement strategy, and fire behaviour.
The aim is to embrace Skills for Security’s reputation for delivering technical knowledge in the security sector and build confidence in applying fire safety principles in real-world scenarios.
Investing in people means investing in safety
In summary, the need for skilled and competent fire safety professionals will continue to grow.
With buildings becoming more complex, legislation more demanding and public awareness higher, the sector must invest in the people who will lead this work.
Educational investment should include support for existing professionals to stay current with evolving requirements and include structured and accessible entry points for those starting a career in fire safety.
Effective partnerships make it easier to share knowledge, avoid duplication and maintain consistent, up to date learning resources.
When the sector works together in this way, it builds a stronger, more unified profession capable of meeting public expectations and a skilled workforce equipped for both current and future demands.