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SEVERAL FIRE and rescue officers in Cheshire have recently been registered with the Engineering Council as Engineering Technicians (EngTech) after they were formally recognised by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) for their skills and knowledge in community fire protection and fire safety.
The officers achieved the accolade, which is widely recognised both in the UK and abroad, and is not only a major achievement for them personally but is also an excellent example of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s commitment to developing its staff to enhance the service provided to residents and businesses in Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.
To qualify, staff had to meet the relevant professional development criteria in:
• knowledge and understanding of engineering technology
• contribution to the design, development, manufacture, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of products, equipment, processes, systems and services
• the acceptance and exercise of personal responsibility, use of effective communication and interpersonal skills, and to have made a personal commitment to adhere to the code of professional conduct
The aim of the collaboration with the IFE was to enable officers to have a recognised and beneficial qualification which gives assurances and inspires confidence in the fire service’s clients.
Receiving a certificate from Cheshire chief fire officer, Steve McGuirk, and John Judd, chairman of the IFE Board of Directors, at a special awards ceremony held at the service’s main headquarters in Winsford in Cheshire were Community Fire Protection staff:
Keith Brooks, group manager
Lee Shears, station manager
Phil Minchew, station manager
Stephen Davies, watch manager
Keith Forshaw, watch manager
Brian Tuohy, watch manager
Paul Watts, station manager
Duncan Palin, community fire protection manager
Andy Wainwright, watch manager
Paul Hanby, watch manager
Anthony Hodgkinson, station manager
Stuart Hurst, technical fire safety officer
Gary Underhill, fire safety officer
Martin Postlethwaite, station manager
John Redmond, area manager for Community Fire Protection, said: ‘At Cheshire, we are committed to training and developing our staff to the highest standards. I was delighted to support my staff for this qualification, which will not only benefit the officers on a personal level but will also be a great asset to the service. I would like to congratulate them all for their hard work and commitment.’
John Judd added: ‘The Institution is delighted to award these qualifications to fire and rescue service staff. The qualifications are recognised and respected by the wider engineering professions through the Institution’s licence with the Engineering Council. The communities of Cheshire can be confident they are protected by a fire and rescue service that can demonstrate the quality of its officers. I congratulate Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service for supporting their staff in this way and would like to add my personal congratulations to the individuals honoured’.
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