Engineers of Tomorrow Apprentice Competition marks 20th anniversary with new fire category

27 September, 2018

Working in pairs, 60 young engineers had 90 minutes in which to install and find faults with intruder alarm systems and, for the first time, fire alarm systems.

The introduction of a fire category followed a successful trial in 2017 and aligned the competition more closely with a new apprenticeship standard – the ‘Fire, Emergency and Security Systems Technicians Apprenticeship’ – developed by the Trailblazer Employer Group with the support of the FSA, BSIA, FIA and other key industry stakeholders.

Moves to create and promote a clearer career path in security and fire system engineering have been driven by a severe skills shortage in the sector.

Engineers of Tomorrow, which took place over three days at London ExCeL (19 to 21 June), also benefited from a revamp of the competition booths.

A presentation for the winners and runners-up was held at the end of each day in IFSEC 2018’s Keynote Arena.

Heat winners: intruder alarms

Day one winners: Aaron Wilson & Stuart McLuskie, New College Lanarkshire

Day one runners-up: Tomasz Gajewaik & George Weymouth, Yeovil College

Day two heat winners: Max Florey & Josh Dunn, Chris Lewis Fire & Security

Day two runners-up: Andy Tham & Stuart McLuskie, New College Lanarkshire

Day three heat winners: Sam Howard & Jamie Rodd, EFT Systems Ltd

Day three runners-up: Jianfeng Chen & Sam Reynolds, Trinity Fire & Security

Heat winners: fire alarms

Day one winners: Andy Tham & Steven Flanigan, New College Lanarkshire

Day one runners-up: Oliver Coles & Will Ferrell, Trinity Fire and Security Systems

Day two heat winners: Aaron Wilson & Stuart McLuskie, New College Lanarkshire

Day two runners-up: Jose Rodrigues & Joshua Casey, Chubb Fire & Security

Day three heat winners: Jamie Rodd & Sam Howard, EFT Systems Ltd

Day three runners-up: Scott Hurford & Joe Smith, Code Security Systems Ltd

Participating firms and colleges

Abel Alarm Ltd

Assured Fire & Security

Belfast Met

Chris Lewis Fire & Security

Chubb Fire & Security

CIA Fire and Security

Code Security Systems Ltd

EFT Systems Ltd

Kings Security Systems Ltd

NME Services

Trinity Fire and Security Systems

Yeovil College

Stakeholders comment

Simon Banks, Group managing director of CSL, commented: “EoT showcases the skills needed to keep the security industry alive. Without these skills we can’t deploy the new and exciting technology that will breathe life into our sector. EoT plays a vital role in promoting the engineers that will propel the security sector into this exciting new world.”

Alex Carmichael, chief executive of SSAIB, commented: “The Engineers of Tomorrow competition is central for both of these industries. The apprentice engineers at IFSEC this year may become the service managers, engineering managers, engineering directors and even MDs of tomorrow. They will set the professionalism and standards of this industry and, hopefully, one of them will be standing in my shoes in the future.