To mark National Apprenticeship Week, we’re sharing an insight into life at DFC from one of our newest team members: Kerry Baker, Apprentice Fire Engineer in our Manchester office. Here, Kerry shares her journey in her own words:

Making the transition from operational firefighting to fire engineering has not meant leaving my previous experience behind;

Working as a firefighter gave me a deep, practical understanding of fire safety. I saw first-hand how buildings behave under fire conditions, how people respond in emergencies, and how vital effective design and planning are in protecting life. Over time, I became increasingly interested in the why behind fire behaviour and building safety – not just responding to incidents but understanding how buildings are designed, what measures are put in place to prevent fires from occurring, and how fire spread is controlled both internally and externally.

This curiosity ultimately led me to pursue an apprenticeship in fire engineering. I wanted to bring together my operational experience and a deeper technical understanding, enabling me to contribute to fire safety at a much earlier stage, from concept design through construction and occupation, and to develop a clearer picture of how safe buildings are engineered.

Balancing my studies alongside work at DFC has been incredibly rewarding. The academic side challenges me to think differently, developing my understanding of the science behind fire behaviour, building materials and engineering principles. While it’s a shift away from directly responding to incidents, the discipline and resilience I developed as a firefighter have helped me manage university deadlines, tackle complex topics, and approach the fire engineer role with a practical, firefighter-informed perspective on why certain design strategies are necessary.

At DFC, I’ve felt genuinely supported as an apprentice. I’m able to apply what I learn through my studies directly to real projects, which helps everything come together. Seeing theory translated into practical fire engineering solutions has been one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of my role.

My time at both CFRS and GMFRS has shaped how I approach my work today. Skills such as situational awareness, teamwork, clear communication, and remaining calm under pressure transfer naturally into fire engineering. Having attended incidents, I can visualise how designs and strategies may perform in real-world scenarios, which adds valuable insight to my work at DFC.

What I enjoy most about completing the apprenticeship is the sense of progression. Every day feels like an investment in my future. I’m constantly learning, developing new skills, and gaining confidence in a role that aligns closely with my passion for fire safety.

This apprenticeship has allowed me to transition into a new career without losing my identity as a firefighter – in many ways, it has expanded it. I’m still driven by the same goal of keeping people safe just from a different angle now.

My experiences in the fire service laid the foundation for how I think about fire safety, and my work at DFC and my studies at the University of Lancashire are helping me turn that experience into lasting impact.