ECNG Chair Dean Morris highlights the importance of proactive competence building for emerging fire engineers

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) has recently launched the Early Careers Networking Group (ECNG), a new initiative aimed at supporting young professionals and students interested in fire engineering.

In this interview, Dean Morris, Chair of the ECNG, explains the importance of fostering a supportive community for early-career individuals in fire engineering and how the ECNG seeks to shape the future of the industry.

What led to the creation of the ECNG and why is it important for young professionals in fire engineering?

Whilst helping to get out there and show the opportunities that the industry has to offer is one aspect of what we are trying to achieve, we also believe helping increase competence in the industry is vital in reducing the risk of future catastrophise occurring.

An example of this is the worlds push towards sustainability, which often leads to the secondary consideration of fire safety once an idea has been created and implemented.

We want to try and push the industry to being more pro-active than re-active and this can only be achieved by increasing competence and awareness for people in the industry, which starts right at the beginning of your career.

Passing a course (such as an Engineering degree) is only the first step in ensuring competence.

It often only touches on industry relevant information and so we are looking at ways to build on this and bring the industry together for shared learning and development, using the expertise that the industry has, and the unique skills of some very talented people to help build competence for the future generations.

We have some exciting plans for this and are looking forward to releasing more information on it soon.

What specific challenges does the ECNG aim to address?

We understand that whilst not all ‘early careers’ persons are young and fresh out of school, there is a large under representation in the industry of this demographic.

The Science Education Tracker helps to understand their views of science education, as well as their interest in science and their career aspirations.

This information if vital if we want to help show the younger generation the opportunities of the industry and really show how they can make a difference.

The group provides a platform for young people to explore career paths within fire engineering.

How do you envision this platform supporting their professional development?

I want to make this clear that its not just young people this group is aimed at.

Whilst we want to increase this demographic and to ensure that the industry has sufficient personnel going forward, the ECNG is open to all, even the mature joiners who may or may not have a relevant background in the industry already.

We have a two pronged approach to our aims, which are:

We want to provide a safe space where questions can be asked without being in an intimidating environment, and mentorship is offered along with networking opportunities.

We want to provide good quality CPD and relevant industry learning and experience utilising industry experts.

We are currently working on a 2 year long CPD programme, which will form a set syllabus on what we believe is lacking in the knowledge of persons in the early stage of their careers.

How does the ECNG plan to foster a supportive community for early-career professionals?

Whilst social media has a mixed reputation and can often be toxic, we have to understand how it plays its part in the lives of young persons and embrace it if we want to make meaningful progress.

LinkedIn provides that opportunity for engagement and to bring the fire world together.

In an industry where there are so many grey areas, everyone’s opinion should be considered as there isn’t always a right or wrong answer.

Education is also important but it is vital to mix this with a good level of experience, and in my opinion this is far more beneficial when correctly utilising industry experts to share their real world experience in the industry.

We want to bridge this gap and offer the opportunity to share real world experiences and case studies which are often the best way to learn and develop.

What steps is the ECNG taking to encourage diversity and inclusivity within fire engineering?

We’ve been fortunate as a group to have a 50/50 gender split in the committee.

That being said, the stats don’t lie and the gender gap is significant.

Representation is the first step in the process and we are fortunate to have a wonderful and highly skilled group of female committee members who are excellent role models for the younger generation.

Beyond this, we will be actively attending schools and events to promote awareness of the industry and we believe that the visibility of our female committee members will help encourage younger females to think about the career opportunities the industry provides.

How will the ECNG will facilitate international collaboration and mentorship opportunities?

The IFE is an international organisation and should be considered as leading the way globally in innovation and developing competency.

The exams are well thought of and provide an education pathway, however, we can do better in passing on the knowledge and skills of our members.

The offerings we provide won’t be limited to just the UK and there is a lot to be said from understanding fire safety regulations and codes from around the world that can help show different opinions and insights into global problems.

The CPD sessions will cover these differences and will be available to anyone at the early stages of their career.

Where time differences may mean that the CPD sessions are difficult to attend, a CPD library of the records will be created for later viewing.

What role do you see the ECNG playing in shaping the future workforce of fire engineers?

As stated previously, we see a large gap in the industry from early education to real world experience and understanding of what the work actually entails.

We want to provide a platform where this is explained and competency is developed in a way that gives a true understanding of the role and the expectations / responsibilities it entails.

We will be utilising experts in the field and running programmes in a way where people are engaged and aren’t afraid to ask questions.

Looking ahead how do you think the ECNG will impact the fire engineering profession?

I hope we can build a platform that is seen as a positive influence in the industry.

Outside of bringing new people in, one of the biggest challenges we face is how busy everyone is.

This has a knock on effect with a lack of adequate training and development for people new to the industry.

We hope to use the IFEs positive reputation to provide support for all companies with their graduates and implement a support network that can share the burden and increase competency going forward.

This article was originally published in the November 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.