Charlotte McGuiness
“While I was at university I came across an advert for a women’s open day at London Fire Brigade’s Southwark Training Centre. The day was brilliant. And it gave me a really good idea of what it’s like to be a firefighter, and how I might progress within LFB. I also got to try out the fitness tests. I knew then that this was something I wanted to do.
“The variety of the work was definitely a big attraction. Some people think firefighters just attend fires. In reality, we attend lots of different incidents – things like collapsed buildings and rail crashes. But the role involves much more than that: we also work with the community, talking to people about fire safety and how they can protect themselves. I visit homes to give advice and fit smoke alarms, talk to organisations that work with people who we know are most at risk from fire, and work with young people to explain the dangers of fires and the consequences of making hoax calls.
“That kind of variety doesn’t just keep me motivated, it gives me the opportunity to use all sorts of skills. And, because the training is so thorough, I feel prepared for every eventuality. I’ve completed competency tests in all areas of firefighting, which gives me a lot of confidence too. If you’re considering a career in this sector, my advice would be to go along to an open day and find out more. It could be the best career decision you ever make.”