Q&A with Catherine Heaton

Catherine (Cat) Heaton, 2021 winner of the prestigious Ian Marsh award, talks to ECAToday about the value of apprentices and the impact of the FESS (Fire, Emergency and Security Systems) apprenticeship.

In your experience, what has been the impact of FESS on the fire systems installation sector?  

The popularity of our own FESS apprenticeship builds year on year - we regularly recruit apprentices from existing and new employers from the North West region.  We aim to enhance apprenticeship delivery by undertaking site visits including safety, regulatory good practice and product/manufacturer training.  From September 2022 we will also be delivering the FESS apprenticeship virtually. We are very lucky to have a pool of excellent candidates. We also have electrical full-time students who are looking for apprenticeship opportunities within the electrical/FESS industry

Do employers need to take on more apprentices in this sector?

Absolutely yes. It’s imperative that companies take on more apprentices. We have an aging workforce and skills shortage within all trade industries.  To be able to fill these skills gaps, we need employers to recruit apprentices and for experienced engineers to pass on their knowledge and skills to the next generation.

How can we encourage more females to take up fire systems installer apprenticeships?

The key to encouraging females into the fire/electrical industry is addressing them while they are in still in primary and high school.  This can help teach and change the traditional mindset that these industries are male-only.  Our industry needs diversity, and, in my experience, female apprentices have excelled both theoretically and onsite.

Finally, what’s your headline message to an aspiring fire systems apprentice who is looking at a career in our industry?   

What can be more rewarding than providing a practical, technical service that helps to ensure public and community safety!

About Cat Heaton

Cat started as an electrical apprentice in 2004, moving up to estimator/test engineer within a decade. Her love of the electrical and fire industry led her to the FE skills sector, where she led a team as education and skills manager at Training 2000 and set up one of the first FESS EPA centres in Blackburn.

Cat’s career experience includes electrical installation/maintenance, fire alarm installation/maintenance/commissioning, and lightning protection testing/surveying/estimating. 

Cat is currently at Hopwood Hall College, where she helps to manage the FESS trailblazer apprenticeship, Cat has contributed significantly to developing quality assurance within electrical and engineering NVQ’s, technical qualifications and the new standards, leading and supporting a team of electrical and engineering assessors. The Ian Marsh Award, sponsored by the FSA, is presented annually to an individual who has shown exceptional enthusiasm and dedication for the fire and emergency systems industry.