Malachi Fearnhead's path to fire safety engineering was ignited by a suggestion from his father, a fire service veteran, in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
"My dad suggested I look into fire safety engineering after Grenfell in 2017. When I saw the apprenticeship with DFC, I knew it was a perfect opportunity."
— Malachi Fearnhead, BSc (Hons) Fire Safety Engineering Degree Apprenticeship student
A Dynamic Apprenticeship Experience
At DFC, Malachi works sees projects evolve from inception to completion. He's involved from the very early stages to when it's handed over to the client. He regularly gets to go on site visits, which he enjoys as it a very exciting and hands-on element to his role.
"I love site visits. Seeing buildings rise from drawings to reality is amazing. I've worked on reclad projects post-Grenfell and witnessed fire safety systems tested in new buildings."
What's more, Malachi gets involved with Continuous Professional Development (CPD) sessions, which help him to broaden his perspective as he gets to meet with various colleagues from various engineering backgrounds.
Engaging Academic Life at UCLan
At University, Malachi splits his time between practical lab sessions and theoretical classes. His practical sessions are usually based at our £35-million-pound Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC), where he gets involved with lab experiments and sees the concepts come to life.
Overcoming Challenges
Balancing academic and work commitments is challenging. However, although Malachi feels the stress of the challenges, his tutors and employer support him, so feels as if he is on the right track.
Advice for Future Apprentices
"Find a balance between work and study, and maintain a strong relationship with both. It's challenging but incredibly rewarding."
Malachi Fearnhead's journey at UCLan and DFC showcases the thrilling blend of hands-on experience and academic learning, preparing him to become a skilled fire safety engineer ready to make a difference.