Last October, the first cohort of our trainee engineers arrived in Blackburn, about to embark on an 18-week training programme to become qualified fire detection and alarm engineers. 

A year on, we wanted to reflect on what has been a successful 12 months in recruiting almost 30 new engineers to the Chubb family. 

But first, a little background. 

Over the past few years, the growing skills shortage within our sector has received lots of attention. With many experienced engineers coming to the end of their careers, it’s fair to say the industry is struggling to replace them. 

At the start of the decade, it was estimated that the engineering industry had a shortfall of around 500,000 engineers. With Fire and Security making up approximately 5% of this sector, there could be a shortage of up to 25,000 fire and security engineers. (Insight from Zitko Group) 

So, we decided it was time to do something about it. 

In early 2022, we started working on a training course to attract new talent to our industry and fast-track them to become qualified engineers. Then, in August 2022, we partnered with Zitko Talent, a leading recruitment agency for the fire and security industry, to launch the Accelerated Development Programme. 

The beauty of this course is that there is no requirement to have any prior fire, security, or engineering experience. We give all the training, support, and guidance. Candidates just need the right aptitude and attitude to complete the 18-week programme and start a new career journey as an engineer. 

At the application stage, candidates are put through specialist psychometric testing to identify outstanding technical and learning potential. If successful, candidates then progress to the programme.  

The 18-week course is fully funded by us, and together with our highly experienced training providers, Training 2000 and Tavcom, we have created a ‘Chubb University’ experience. Our purpose-built classroom in Blackburn is ideal for theory and practical sessions. This blended approach covers a rich mix of topics, including industry regulations, the importance of manual handling, health and safety, how to carry out and report on risk assessments, and how to safely isolate electrical supplies. 

There are, of course, technical modules in fire detection, emergency lighting, and the installation and maintenance of systems to name just a few. 

We’ve been very thorough with the content of the course because we want to ensure our new engineers can manage the whole process end-to-end when they are out in the field. 

The structure follows our internal competency matrix and features ongoing assessment. The trainees are tested on theory and practical work in the classroom, assessed in the field by their experienced mentor, and through written exams. 

At the end of the 18 weeks, our new engineers have a strong portfolio of work and gain a Level 3 BTEC qualification. They will also receive ongoing pastoral care from their regional team, which enables them to confidently get out into the field and start protecting our customers. 

Three cohorts have successfully completed the ADP, and we have unearthed some exceptional hidden talent, including individuals who are traditionally underrepresented in the industry. 

Jodi Davies graduated from the first cohort and is nine months into her new fire detection and alarm service technician role, based out of our Plymouth branch.  

Jodi said, “Before joining Chubb, I worked for IBM as an ATM engineer in Wales. Transitioning from that role was quite easy as I already had experience in fault findings, planning my days, and interacting with customers in the field. 

“It was a former colleague of mine at IBM who told me about the ADP. He had spotted the role and applied for it. I researched it and really liked the look of it, too, so I applied. Thankfully, we both got accepted and now both work for Chubb. 

“The first few weeks of the course were really good. We spent it in Blackburn getting to know some of the people at Chubb and learnt some of the fundamentals of fire safety and the technical details of alarms and fire detection. 

“By week three, I was out in the field with my mentors. Being able to apply theoretical knowledge alongside an experienced engineer was the most valuable thing for me. There is only so much you can learn in the classroom. But when you service historic buildings such as museums, castles, and posh hotels, they all have quirks. That’s where the experience of your mentor really comes in handy.” 

Before her role as an ATM engineer, Jodi was an engineer in the Royal Navy for 14 years. 

Jodi added, “I’m used to being one of the only females at work. It was the same in my engineering role in the Navy and at IBM. But I hope training courses like the ADP will start to change that. Chubb is an organisation that emphasises equity. There is an inclusive culture where everyone has the same opportunity, no matter who they are. So, I’d love to see more women join the company.” 

Another candidate who relished the opportunity to join Chubb was John Davies. John is also a fire detection and alarm service technician, and he serves the south coast of England, looking after customers in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Thames Valley.  

John was part of the second cohort and completed his initial training in mid-June 2023. He revealed that this course was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he had to take. 

John said, “Leaving my full-time job to retrain and study for 18 weeks when I have a young family to look after took some consideration. But it was a jump I was willing to take. I knew I had to grasp this opportunity. 

“I heard about the course through my brother, who is a senior engineer at Chubb. He told me about it, and it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. The application process was straightforward, and Zitko were very good at keeping in touch to let me know what the next steps were. 

“I have almost 30 years of experience in the fire industry. The bulk of that time was spent as a fire extinguisher service engineer, but I always wanted to progress and move into fire detection and alarms. I just needed the right opportunity.” 

Before making his way to Blackburn for the first week, John admitted he wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  

John continued, “It was kind of strange being back at college in my 40s. I was a bit worried that Chubb would be looking for people in their 20s. However, having work experience and some basic knowledge of the industry with transferable skills was what they were looking for. 

“There were 12 places up for grabs on the course, and personally, I really enjoyed the smaller class sizes. It meant we got to know each other really well, and there was plenty of time to have one-on-ones with the tutors so they could explain and demonstrate things in detail. 

“I’ve wanted this job for the past 5-6 years, and now that I’m here, I can honestly say it has jump-started my career. It’s one of the best career moves I’ve ever made. 

“I would highly recommend this training programme. Chubb is a great company to work for. Everybody is so knowledgeable and has so much experience. Each individual works with integrity and is extremely thorough. They take pride in their work and want to do a good job. They are a market leader for a reason – so if you are going to do it – do it with Chubb.” 

With 26 new fire and security engineers successfully recruited, we’ve made a strong start to adding talented individuals to our business. But there is lots more work to be done, so watch this space for more details of the next batch of start dates for our Accelerated Development Programme coming in 2024.