With previous experience in teaching, Faith Patterson knew she enjoyed making a difference in people’s lives and the community.
Being a very active person, however, made her want to combine her passion for helping others with a more physically demanding role, making joining the fire service the perfect career change.
Faith began her journey with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service through the wholetime recruitment route, through which she quickly enrolled onto the Level 3 Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship.
Through this apprenticeship, Faith gained her firefighting competency, which was instrumental to her progression in the fire service.
It provided her with numerous development opportunities, including progression to the Women in Leadership (WIL) programme, Future Leaders Programme, and attendance at Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) and Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) exams, all of which supported her career advancement.
Having progressed in her career since completing her apprenticeship, Faith has most recently been promoted to Crew Manager.
“As a female Core Trainer in a predominantly male environment, I feel that I have influenced other women within the service to consider career progression,” she said.
“I believe that increasing female representation in leadership roles will inspire more women to take advantage of available opportunities.
“I encourage others to embrace lifelong learning, seek mentorship, and remain adaptable to changes in the fire service and I feel my story highlights the value of apprenticeships in the fire service.”
Faith’s story is a fantastic example of what can be achieved with apprenticeship opportunities. Her experience in particular highlights the career progression opportunities apprenticeships can offer.
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