National Apprenticeship Week: Why We Invest in the Next Generation of Fire Safety Experts

What is the most surprising, interesting, or stunning building that has Coopers Fire Curtains in it for you?

I’d say the Great Mosque of Mecca Tunnels and Tottenham Stadium are definitely the most interesting. Although I wasn’t directly involved, seeing the grand scale at which the company and fire curtains work really showed me the potential of what we can achieve. As an apprentice, it really expanded my view of the industry. What’s especially striking is that while the Mecca Tunnels and Tottenham Stadium are almost opposites in many ways — with the Mecca Tunnels being a massive historic architectural masterpiece, and Tottenham Stadium a modern sports venue — Coopers Fire still provides our products to both, demonstrating the versatility of our solutions.

What inspired you to pursue an apprenticeship instead of other career paths, such as university or full-time work?

I actually studied Motorsport Engineering at University for about 18 months before realising it wasn’t the right fit for me. There were a variety of reasons, but ultimately, I knew it wasn’t the path I wanted to follow. However, I still had a passion for engineering and wanted an academic pathway. That led me to explore apprenticeships. The mix of academic learning and hands-on experience felt like a much better fit for what I wanted to do. Now, 18 months later, I can confidently say it was the right choice.

What have been the most valuable skills or knowledge you’ve gained so far during your apprenticeship?

Learning two engineering design software programmes from scratch has been incredibly valuable, especially since this was one of the key aspects I was looking for when applying for a design apprenticeship. Being able to do this in a relatively short period of time is a real positive for me. Along with that, I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge about Coopers as a company, how we produce our products, and general engineering concepts — especially within the design sector. Beyond technical skills, I’ve learned a lot about working in a professional environment. Gaining the confidence to ask questions and seek advice from different people has been crucial.

How has the apprenticeship benefited your personal or professional growth?

This apprenticeship has had significant benefits for both my personal and professional life. Personally, I feel I’ve matured quite a lot in the past year. Working with people who are older and come from different backgrounds has made me more mature and confident. Professionally, having a structured work routine, handling pressure to complete tasks, and feeling important (not just another cog in the machine) has made me much more driven. It’s created a more ambitious mindset for me — I now have a clearer path in life and am no longer letting life decide things for me.

What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship in fire safety or a related field?

There’s plenty of generic advice I could give, like “be confident” or “you are there to learn,” but the main piece of advice I’d give is not to fear the unknown. I’d be lying if I said I knew what fire curtains were before this apprenticeship, so it was almost a completely blank canvas for me. But within just a few weeks of working and talking to people, everything became easily understandable. Also, the word “safety” might sound daunting at first, but remember, you’re there to learn. Sometimes, putting yourself in an unfamiliar situation helps you develop more than sticking to what you already know.

How do you see your apprenticeship shaping your future career goals?

I’ve wanted to be an Engineer since secondary school, but for a while, I wasn’t sure what exactly I wanted to specialise in. It was just easy to say, “I want to be an Engineer.” After a year of my apprenticeship, I can now confidently say I want to specialise in design engineering. This shows that my apprenticeship is already helping to shape my career goals. Of course, I’m still early in my journey, but I can already see a path forming, and I’m excited for the future. I believe the mix of academic learning and hands-on experience will really help me become the engineer I’ve wanted to be since I was 15.

Can you share a project or task you’ve worked on that you’re particularly proud of?

The first time I felt truly proud of myself was when I designed an “obstruction light sensor.” This is an additional feature we offer along with our fire curtains. It was the first solo project I completed using the 3D software “SolidWorks.” The project involved designing the item within the software using the physical component as a reference and creating the technical engineering drawings. I won’t pretend I didn’t face challenges along the way, but I think those bumps in the road made the final result even more rewarding. It was the first moment I truly felt I was developing valuable skills, and it gave me a big confidence boost. Even now, it still feels like a significant achievement in my early engineering career.