My Story - Laura

Written by Apprentice Business Safety Advisor Laura Broughton

My name is Laura and I have been involved with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service for the past five years.

My journey began when I was 13-years-old. As a student at Wentworth High School, I attended an assembly where firefighters invited me to join the cadets at Eccles fire station.

  

Excitedly, I attended and over the following years I achieved a BETEC qualification in Fire and Rescue Services in the Community which is a nationally recognised qualification.

                                      

From there I have grown in confidence and in March of 2013 I became a volunteer and a cadet instructor at the unit where I first became a cadet.  Whilst working as a volunteer, I worked with the Chief Fire Officers Association as a Peer Leader. I enjoyed teaching emergency service cadets to a year six group in a school in Cheetham Hill.

In this time I had been through college but felt that university was not for me. I had heard of the apprenticeships last year and I was eager to apply. After consideration, whilst wanting to finish my A levels and awaiting a heart operation, I decided the best option was to apply the next year instead and I am so glad that I did.

Since joining the fire service at 13, I did not believe that I would be in the position I am today, although I’ve known since joining cadets I wanted to be employed by GMFRS.  I appreciate and cannot give thanks enough to all the people that have helped me achieve where I am today and for putting up with me in my early teenage years as a cadet.  It can’t have been easy.

If you are aged 13 ½ to 15 and want to find out more about joining your local community fire cadets group please visit,

http://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/community_work/fire_cadets.aspx