28 minute read
Shaun Coltress -London Fire Brigades, ‘Man on a mission
from Future Focus
The Voice's Alannah Francis speaks with the London Fire Brigade's Shaun Coltress
Man on a
haun Coltress, S a station manager within the borough of Tower Hamlets, is responsible for four teams comprising of 28 firefighters. Before he became a firefighter he did everything from being an estate agent to handling 999 calls.
Now he’s a leader in a life-saving service where every day presents a different challenge and opportunity to leave a lasting positive impact on others. Here he speaks to The Voice about what he loves about being a firefighter, connecting with communities and why a career in the fire service is for everyone.
Connecting with communities
It’s a misconception that firefighters spend their days running in and out of burning buildings. While that is indeed part of their jobs, there’s a lot more to it than that.
The majority of a fire fighter’s work is prevention focused, involving activities such as educating others about fire safety and ensuring they are well equipped and prepared in an emergency.
Affecting positive change within his local community is one of the major highlights of being a firefighter for Coltress.
“For me, the best thing about working for the Fire Brigade is definitely about making a real difference in the community day-to-day, whether that be attending incidents and making people’s day a little it better, because quite often we come across members of the public when it’s what they would see as the worst day of their life,” he said.
This tangible impact on the community surrounding his station, that Coltress believes is one of the best things about working for the London Fire Brigade, has manifested itself in a number of ways.
During his time working as a London firefighter, Coltress has opened up the Shadwell fire station’s doors to the public in a variety of ways. Thanks to him Shadwell became the first fire station in London to deliver NHS blood donation sessions, something that was particularly important due to the lack of BAME donors.
“We’re doing it in a really underrepresented area, Shadwell, with a really high Asian population here, which the NHS need blood donations from. So to be able to help the community in that way and help the NHS for me was really massive thing,” he said.
The station has also hosted catchup vaccinations for young people in the local area who missed out on immunisations, employability workshops with charities and given a home to the local St John’s Ambulance unit.
“We actually got a regional commendation from the St John’s Ambulance for helping them to do that and what that does is give us access to quite a lot of people, vulnerable people especially within the borough of Tower Hamlets and allows us to carry out our prevention work in a really good way and build trust with the local community,” Coltress said.
A world of opportunities
“If you’ve not got the aspiration to progress through the ranks, there’s still a lot of opportunity to develop yourself through different things,” Coltress said. “We have specialist units. You have what we call our rescue unit which will do things like land and water rescue, they’ll absail down the side of buildings to rescue people from window cradles if they have to. You don’t have to go for promotion to do that but it’s a really specialised skill.
“We’ve got the fire investigation team where you investigate fires, which is really important. There are our aerial appliances, which are our high reach vehicles.”
For those hoping to rise through the ranks, Coltress is full of praise about the amount of support on offer and the variety of routes individuals can take.
“With the size of London and the size of the London Fire Brigade itself, there is a massive opportunity to get promoted if you want to. There’s the opportunity iitally to take on temporary promotion if you’ve been assessed as suitable so you can try out the role you’re going for eventually and get some experience in that role,” he said.
What makes a good firefighter?
With so many options and the ability to have a huge impact, Coltress strongly believes a career within the fire service is one for everyone but he highlights a willingness to learn, key traits for those considering the challenge.
“We need people who are going to work well as part of a team, who are resilient because there will be times in the job where it will be difficult – it could be 3 o’clock in the morning, snowing outside and we’ve got a job to do...so we need resilient people,” he said.
He added: “We also need people who have the right attitude that really want to prevent fires and injuries from fires in the community. Who are happy speaking with members of the community because that’s a really large part of what we do – the prevention work. We need people who are confident – we climb ladders to the fourth floor and we go into buildings, occasionally, that are on fire.”
For Coltress, a career in the fire service offers something that’s quite rare – the knowledge that you’ve made a difference on a daily basis.
“At the end of the day, when you go home there’s not many jobs like this where you can think back over your day and actually pinpoint where you’ve made a difference – whether that be to a person, to a community or to yourself,” he said. “No day is ever the same but you can always look back and say you know what, I made a difference in that community today, I kept some people safe.”
ver the last 10 years, QA has O helped more than 25,000 apprentices start new careers in the fastest-growing industry in the world – tech. With average in- dustry salaries over £40k and vacancies booming, there’s never been a better time to fire up your future career.
Need some career inspiration? Meet Joshua Uwadiae, former IT apprentice with QA – now Co-Founder and CEO of WeGym and CoFounder of Bouncy Bros.
For Josh, a tech apprenticeship turned his life around. Josh grew up in Hackney, East London and enjoyed playing football for Victoria Park Rangers, but after failing to go pro, he was expelled from school at 15 after falling in with the wrong crowd. “Hackney was a rough and gritty place back then—I grew up around gangs and chaos,” he says. “Then I decided I wanted to better myself around the age of 15.”
STUDYING
Josh found a mentor and went to college, achieving a level 2 BTEC in IT, but he felt his course was just priming him for university. “The concept of university, all the studying, wasn’t appealing,” he says. “I just wanted to get out there and work and do something. I started looking around at jobs, but I didn’t have the right skills.”
The turning point for Josh was seeing an apprenticeships poster for Microsoft in his company’s breakout area. In 2012, he was accepted as a Microsoft IT apprentice in IT systems and networking for eCourier. The job involved learning about IT security, helping solve IT problems in the workplace and analysing IT servers and infrastructure. Highly motivated in his hands-on, technical role, he successfully completed an IT apprenticeship and came runner-up in the prestigious Microsoft Apprentice of the Year Awards, accepting his award in the House of Commons. He was promoted to Head of IT for the company, received the National Apprenticeship Service Ambassador award and became Global Education and Apprenticeships Ambassador for Microsoft.
INSPIRATION
Josh then went on to build a successful fitness startup, WeGym, matching personal trainers with clients looking to work out in London. His inspiration for the company was an idea from Richard Branson to solve his own problem – the frustration of not being able to find a personal trainer but not wanting to work out on his own. “The concept of WeGym is to make personal training more accessible and fun,” he says. “We connect two to three friends or colleagues with the same goals and get them to share the costs of the personal trainer.”
AMBASSADOR
In 2018, Josh co-founded a new marketing company, Bouncy Bros. He’s now looking at hiring his own apprentices, continuing to use his technology-based experience to grow his companies and acting as an ambassador for apprenticeships.
Looking back, Joshua is grateful for how his apprenticeship changed his perspective. “Doing my IT apprenticeship with QA was like being given the tools but having an open path – my future
was what I chose to make of it,” he says. “It changed my perspective of technology. With the training mixed with experience and the amount of impact it had on my career in a short space of time, I don’t think it’s comparable to anything else.”
“I was a kid from Hackney and in the blink of an eye I was in the House of Commons picking up my apprenticeship award. The recognition gave me a real sense that good things will happen if you work for them.”
No
Job
oday’s modern RAF is the T UK’s aerial, peacekeeping and fighting force. It’s made up of impressive full-time Regulars and spare- time Reserves who come from diverse backgrounds and work side-by-side to make a difference at home and abroad.
When it comes to recruitment our focus is attracting the best personnel, and ensuring they’re well taken care of during and after their service in the RAF. The Royal Air Force delivered apprenticeships are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Our apprenticeship schemes mean you gain a civilian recognised vocational qualification and upon completion you have a guaranteed job in The RAF, within your chosen field.
TRANSFORM
There are currently 24 different apprenticeship roles or ‘Trades’ from Drivers and Caterers to Intelligence and Engineering. You will gain a civilian qualification with a guaranteed RAF job at the end of your training. We have careers available for those without any formal qualifications and beyond. You will need to complete phase 1 RAF training, where we will transform you from a civilian into an effective member of the Royal Air Force. Next, you work towards level 2, 3 or 4 apprenticeships as part of your phase 2 ‘Trade’ training which can last 1 – 3 years. All equipment required to complete your apprenticeship will be provided by us. An RAF apprentice earns £15,200+ per annum from day 1, this increases once they progress into their phase two ‘trade’ training, and again on completion of phase two training. You’ll also receive free, on-base, medical and dental care.
TRAINING
For those who wish to take on a leadership role from the start we have a variety of opportunities which could see you earning £26,500 from the start. With over 50 roles in the RAF the choice really is yours. Most RAF personnel work normal hours, with evenings and weekends free to spend with family and friends. All Regulars live on-base throughout their training, meaning you can get to know everyone and get a feel for what life in the RAF is like.
After training you can choose to live on-base or off, it’s up to you. If you’re not on duty, and your family isn’t already living with you on-base you can leave to visit them after initial training, when off duty or during the six weeks paid holiday you’ll get every year. The RAF has Bases (also known as Stations) across the UK and elsewhere around the world. Most are like small, self-contained towns with shops, gyms, playing fields, post offices, cinemas and even bowling-alleys.
Personnel can join a club for just about any sport, from skydiving and scuba diving to tennis and sailing, football, netball, rugby, cricket, hockey and athletics. We also offer some less common sports like fencing, bobsleigh, power-kiting, powerlifting and gliding. Adventure training is also a way of life in the RAF. It’s challenging, enjoyable and encourages teamwork. You can also get involved with organising expeditions and adventures at home and around the world. These could see you scuba diving in the Red Sea, climbing peaks in the Himalayas and kayaking the rivers of Canada, all while getting paid. Food on base is subsidised and will cost you around £28 per week for three meals a day. You can expect good quality food that caters for all dietary requirements, including religious and vegetarian preferences.
Rent for those living in single barrack accommodation, also known as a Mess, includes all utility bills.
A furnished two-bedroom property for an officer is between £114 and £453 per month, and between £75 and £242 per month for other ranks.
We do everything we can to cater to your personal requirements, including religion. Chaplains are on hand, along with other religious counsellors. Prayer facilities are also usually available, and we’ll adapt your uniform, catering and duty roster to meet your religious requirements, where possible.
To gain an apprenticeship or for any of our other roles you still need to meet all the entry requirements, which are role dependant and go through the application process, more details can be found on our website, www.raf.mod.uk/ recruitment where you can also apply.
OPPORTUNITY If you have the drive and ambition, we can offer you a unique and rewarding career. Follow our RAF Altitude Facebook page to get a feel for RAF life and for an opportunity to ask questions during our live Q & A sessions, follow the RAF Recruitment Facebook page.
Alternatively, you can visit our recruiting office, addresses throughout the UK are available on our website.
Entry age is from 16 through to 47 - up to 54 for Reserves – with roles as varied as Caterer, Chef, Aircraft Technician, Vehicle Technician, Weapons System Operator, Air Operations Controller, Cyberspace Communications and, of course, Pilot.
Alternatively you can visit our recruiting offices: addresses throughout the UK are available on our website. Visit: www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/ apprenticeships
Money,
dosh…
pplying for an Apprenticeship or training posiA tion may seem time consuming and depending on your preparation or lack of it …. stressful. It’s understandable that you just want to get started, but while you are moving at pace and dec i d i n g the next steps in your journey… it would be wise to spare a thought for the idea of financial planning.
Here we provide a simple checklist that you can use as a starting point.
Make a simple budget Whether you use pen & paper or go for a simple Excel spreadsheet it is a good idea to make a log of your cashflow.
Incomings - student loans, grants plus any job income in addition to any other sources of financial support. minus any
Outgoings - rent, bills. food, transport, socialising
This is in order to see if you have anything left over each month to put into a rainy day/savings account.
Keep it straight forward A straightforward approach to make this more effective is to look at ways to increase your incomings and or reduce your outgoings so that you have more money to put into your rainy-day pot.
Saving even £10 a month is a start and can add up at the end of the year or whatever period you are working with. The mindset to adopt is anything is better than nothing, and adopting these habits early can help you establish a life long control over your finances. Adopt an easy strategy Good ways to reduce outgoings • Bring your own lunch to Uni or work • Buying new clothes & shoes less often (do you really need a new item every time you plan to go out?), • Always ask if a retailer offers a student discount, • Take a look at your recent bank statements for the last couple of months to see where you spend most of your money.
This way you can determine If you able to cut back on these recurring expenses.
E.g. Can you try at-home workouts instead of going to the gym? can you do some beauty treatments at home instead of paying for them all the time?
Be creative, it will all pay off…(literally) in the end.
Great ways to increase income • Look out for paid studies, • You can start selling unwanted items on: Depop www.depop.com Ebay www.ebay.co.uk Gumtree www.gumtree.com or Shpock www.shpock.com/en-gb to name a few good sites. • Taking on extra work over summer break • 50:30:20 rule as a guide for budgeting (more about this later)
Finance 101 What is a student bank account? Well a student bank account is just that, an account for students, and getting the best student bank account should be a priority. Not only do you want a generous, 0% overdraft that lasts you the length of your course or apprenticeship - you'll also want to make sure you get a deal that gives you the best perks suited to you.
make a log of your cashflow
Some providers and accounts are:
Nationwide: Flex Student
www.nationwide.co.uk/products/current-accounts/flexstudent/ features-and-benefits
Santander: 123 Student
www.santander.co.uk/personal/current-accounts/123-studentcurrent-account
HSBC: Student
www.hsbc.co.uk/current-accounts/products/student/
Read more:
www.which.co.uk/money/banking/student-and-graduate-bankaccounts/student-bank-accounts-ablvm7t6pdjr What is an overdraft? An overdraft will allow you to borrow money through your current account. Usually there’s a charge.
Overdrafts can be useful for some people. An arranged overdraft can help you avoid fees from bounced payments for bills that happen when your account doesn’t have enough money in it.
As stated earlier always make sure that you get an account with a generous, 0% overdraft that lasts you the length of your course or apprenticeship What are the risks to having an overdraft? Overdrafts should only be an emergency fund or short-term back up credit option because this is money that you have to pay back, and you are in fact incurring a debt.
dosh…
Finance
50:30:20 budgeting rule.
The premise is simple — you allocate 50% of your budget for your essentials, 30% for extras, and 20% for debt and savings.
Essentials- should really consist of a few main items Rent Food Bills Travel
Extras - are really that, extra things that are not essential Gym Clothes Socialising
Debt & Savings – important for long term peace of mind Credit card bill - (If you have one) Overdraft - (If you haven’t taken advantage of one of the 0% accounts listed earlier) Savings …. Try it, you might like it….
Going Digital Digital savings & budgeting tools There are several really cool digital platforms available that are there to make your life easier, here we briefly take a look at a few.
Monzo Monzo is one of the challenger banks that has been around a while know and is increasing in popularity, it offers an app based and controlled bank account that has a host of interesting
Saving even £10 a month is a start
Tips for success
options. Among them are ‘pots’ that you can put money in that make it easy for you to plan your monthly budget and stick to it. This will be very useful if you are implementing the 50:30:20 budgeting rule. Visit: www.monzo.com for more information.
Chip This app provides an easy way to save even if you're in your overdraft, it allows you to set savings goals that it sets about achieving by looking at your account and working out the best time to put away some of your money towards this goal.You set the level at which you want this done most people settle for a moderate strategy others may want something a little less or more aggressive, either way you are starting to save your money. The algorithm used will quickly become a reliable friend, works in conjunction with your student bank account, so you need to get one first. Visit: www.getchip.uk for more information
Revolut Revolut is a good versatile digital platform with a host of features, it comes complete with an incorporated bank account in case you want to use it, and the choice of a physical or virtual debit Visa card. You control all aspects of the card via an app and can quickly freeze the card if you lose it. Excellent for online transactions as you are not using your main student account (which needs to be attached to it in order to transfer funds). Another great function is that Its good for using abroad and avoiding foreign exchange charges as it allows you to convert your balance into a host of other currencies at the touch of a button. Visit: www.revolut.com for more information Checks and balances Make sure you download your bank's mobile banking app and make a point to check transactions and balances often so you can see how you're sticking to your budget.
Make sure you know when the interest-free period on your student overdraft runs out (that’s if you decide to take an overdraft)
Remember to get in touch with your university's finance department if you need any support with your finances/want to ask any questions - they are there to help and support you and will be happy to help you if you need it.
For additional useful tips on good financial housekeeping:
www.moneysupermarket.com/money-made-easy/money-management-for-students/
Good luck.
uring sixth form, I knew I D wanted to do engineering, so I considered both apprenticeships and university. University in some ways w a s the safer option as there was a lot more support and information about it. I also have an older sister who went to university, so I was aware of what to expect. However, I felt that an apprenticeship would outweigh the benefits of going to university for me, as I’d be able to simultaneously experience the world of work and get the qualifications I needed. My parents weren’t very sure about an apprenticeship, mostly because they didn’t know what it would involve and whether it was the right thing for me. Like many parents, their goal for me was the traditional university route as that was all they knew. EXPERIENCE I applied for the GSK Engineering apprenticeship programme around the same time as my UCAS application. The apprentice application process had multiple stages; the first stage was a simple application form where I expressed my interest, gave my qualifications and prior experience. I then took an online test - the World of GSK - which showed several videos and asked multiple-choice questions on what would influence your decisions if you were at GSK. The last stage was the assessment centre, where I could show everything I had expressed in the previous stages. I was able to see the site and meet the people working there and this was a great opportunity to see for myself whether this apprenticeship was right for me. Luckily, I passed and was given an offer to join the programme. EARNING My parents then took time to understand the apprenticeship. One of the real benefits was the fact that I would be earning while my education was being paid for and I would even have the chance to do my degree. All in all, there was no reason to not accept the offer. When I started the apprenticeship, it was hard to see all my friends who went directly to university having a great time during freshers week; I did feel like I was missing e are a science-led
Wglobal healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. Our 3 global businesses – Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare – research, develop and manufacture life-enhancing products for our patients and consumers. Together, they are responsible for everything from measles vaccines and major pain relief brands, to research into new medicines to treat a range of diseases. Our goal is to be one of the world’s out. Although I had been very excited prior to starting, after some time I started to become doubtful and wondered if it really was the best option for me. It was a hard adjustment and I realised that going from school to a full-time job is a very big jump. OPPORTUNITIES But once I fully settled in and got into a routine I started to enjoy it more and more. You’re surrounded by colleagues of all ages, but there are many who are starting their career, from the apprentices to the placement students to the graduates, so we’ve gradually built a network. I’ve been able to connect with apprentices all around the world through events such as the Outward Bound week which is a residential trip filled with team building activities and we also have an online platform called NxtGen which is our global network of apprentices. I’ve been invited to other networking opportunities such as the WISE awards, and an Institute of Engineering & Technology event, and hopefully many more will come my way. TECHNOLOGY I am now in the second year of my apprenticeship and I’m seconded to the Automation team where we create and apply technology to monitor and control the production of data, products and services. I really enjoy this side of engineering. It’s such a broad career and there are many opportunities and different paths I could take. In December 2018, I completed my Electrical HNC course and this September I’ll register to complete my Electrical and Electronic Engineering Degree – at one of the universities I had on my UCAS form! I’m interacting with a variety of people across different areas of work and constantly broadening my knowledge. I now feel confident in the workplace and hope to spend the rest of my apprenticeship learning more and becoming a real asset to the company. most innovative, best-performing and trusted healthcare companies.
Whatever area you join, you’ll find our values and expectations are at the heart of all we do. Our values are Patient focus, Respect for people, Transparency and Integrity, and we’ll expect you to share them too. Along with our four expectations – Courage, Accountability, Development and Teamwork – they guide our actions and decision making, so we can achieve extraordinary things for our patients and consumers. We’re 100% open to all talent – whatever your gender, marital status, religion, age, colour, race, sexual orientation, nationality or disability. We want to recruit the right people for GSK from the widest possible backgrounds, so we can better serve the diversity of our patients and consumers. And also because it’s the right thing to do.
A key priority for GSK is to make sure we can all be ourselves, feel good and keep growing. Our Employee Resource Groups – Embrace (ethnic minority), the Women’s Leadership Initiative, Spectrum (LGBT+) and the Disability Confidence Network - ensure we continue to progress in creating an inclusive environment where everyone can be their best.
How does an apprenticeship compare to university?
Our apprenticeship programme is a smart alternative route for students who
want to start their career from day one.
Meet GSK
You’ll benefit from early responsibility and opportunities in the world of work, enabling you to reach your career goals whilst studying towards academic and industry accredited qualifications.
What does an apprenticeship involve?
Apprenticeships give you hands-on experience in your chosen discipline and the opportunity to play a key role in contributing to the future success of the company, while learning on-thejob from industry leaders, earning a competitive salary and studying towards a degree, postgraduate or academic qualification.
What are the learning and development opportunities?
The opportunities range from science to engineering, from manufacturing to business operations. We have many different apprenticeship programmes as shown in the diagram below.
You’ll have the opportunity to grow and develop with GSK and reach technical specialist, management and leadership levels. Our differentiated training and development programme consists of learning on the job from industry experts, to having an assigned mentor or buddy, as well as the more formal qualification part of your apprenticeship. To support your soft skills development, you’ll be engaged in teamwork, making presentations and building communications experience. You’ll also take part in development weeks where you will meet and network with other apprentices from the UK and beyond.
At which sites can I undertake an apprenticeship at GSK?
GSK offers apprenticeships across many of our sites in the UK. Ideally, you’ll live within a 60 minute commute of your chosen site, either at home or with close family or friends. The roles we have available vary from site to site, so please think carefully whether we have the right role you for in the right area. equivalent
Who can apply?
We offer Advanced through to Higher and Degree apprenticeships. There is no age restriction and the level of apprenticeship you apply for depends on your of course, your area of interest. If you have completed:
GCSEs, Scottish Standards or equivalent
• You can apply for an Advanced apprenticeship
A Levels, Scottish Highers, BTEC or equivalent
• You can apply for a Higher apprenticeship • You gain a foundation degree or current skills, qualifications and
A Levels
• You can apply for a Degree (Level 6) apprenticeship • You gain a full Bachelor (Honours) degree, the same qualification if you had studied at university
GSK Apprenticeship have no age restrictions.
How can I apply and what is the selection process?
There are 5 stages to the process which are outlined below and there’s more information on our careers website www.gsk.com/careers
Will there be a permanent job at the end?
Apprenticeships are now an essential component of our talent pipeline. We establish all our apprenticeship programmes with the ambition of offering a permanent position upon successful completion of the programme. To date, over 95% of our former apprentices are still with the company in full time roles.
One programme. Countless destinations.
Vehicle maintenance at Royal Mail isn’t what it used to be. From working on the general public’s cars to fi xing our next-generation electric vehicles, there’s more under our bonnet than you’d expect.
With 47,000 vehicles in our fl eet, 50,000 commercial customers and 87 locations, the variety we offer is unrivalled. You could be replacing simple parts one day, and the variety we offer is unrivalled. You could be replacing simple parts one day, and solving complex faults the next. Working with an award-winning team, recognised solving complex faults the next. Working with an award-winning team, recognised by the industry and committed to reducing carbon emissions, you’ll learn everything by the industry and committed to reducing carbon emissions, you’ll learn everything there is to know, inside out. there is to know, inside out.
Our Apprenticeships • Light vehicle maintenance • H eavy vehicle maintenance • Bo dy repair technician
Passion, excitement and an eagerness to learn. That’s what we look for in our apprentices. You don’t need to be an expert, if you’re curious, enthusiastic and have a fl air for mechanics, we’ll turn you into an engineering expert.
Apprenticeships are an ideal way to start a rewarding career. And Royal Mail is the ideal place to begin your journey. Whether you’re working in our Fleet, Planning and Programmes, Finance, Sales, Fleet Management, Engineering, Logistics or Operations, your work is pivotal to our future.
Find out more and apply for Fleet apprentice positions starting in September 2019. earlycareers.royalmailgroup.com/apprenticeships
