IFE Early Careers Networking Group launch two-year professional development series

The Institution of Fire Engineers Early Careers Networking Group (ECNG) has announced the launch of Elevate, an innovative professional development series designed to provide early career fire professionals with a structured learning pathway to help bridge the industry skills gap.

Spanning 24 months, the series offers fortnightly, 60-minute interactive sessions led by industry leaders across the global fire sector. Each session will include a Q&A, allowing participants to engage directly with subject matter experts.

The series was developed by the ECNG, which provides a supportive community offering inspiration, career advice and professional development to the next generation of fire engineering talent. The programme reflects the multifaceted workforce and variation of roles in the fire safety arena and was developed with the support of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) and the London Fire Brigade (LFB).

The suite of webinars will aim to bridge the skills gap within the fire sector and promote a culture of continuous professional development (CPD).

Delegates can register for individual sessions that suit their interests or commit to the full series for a comprehensive learning experience. In support of career development across the fire industry, Elevate is being offered free of charge to all fire professionals worldwide.

Dean Morris, chair of the IFE’s Early Careers Networking Group, comments: “Fire safety is not a one size fits all vocation; it requires a complex skill set paired with constant growth and this was the catalyst for the development of the Elevate series.

“It will equip early career professionals with the tools and knowledge to excel in the varied nuances of fire safety, harnessing the confidence to explore the career paths available.

“Organisations will also be able to integrate the programme into their ongoing training strategies, and by doing so, they can enhance their internal development programmes, ensuring personnel are well-versed in current best practices and innovations within fire safety.”

The group is calling on industry professionals to contribute to the series by delivering speaker sessions, helping to develop competency skillsets within early career professionals. Those interested in participating can refer to the speaker brochure for details on remaining speaker slots and contact information for submissions.

The first instalment of the series is scheduled for 2nd April 2025, coinciding with National Careers Week. ‘Introducing fire science’, will explore the basic principles of fire, including methods of heat transfer, fire load and fire load densities.

For more information and to book onto the Elevate series click here. To receive updates on and learn about other ECNG initiatives, join the IFE ECNG today.

FIRE Magazine

See Full Bio