Joseph and Isaac are two of our recent interns at Ashton Fire.  In our latest article, they share their experiences, the projects they’ve worked on and the skills they’ve gained during their time with us.

Joseph Curtis

Can you describe the main project you’re working on during your internship?

The main objective of my internship has been to fully develop a digital calculation tool to help Fire Engineers with their jobs. I was in charge of all aspects of this development including research, design, and implementation. This required me to familiarise myself with several key fire engineering topics and gave me real insight into the field. My secondary task was to perform data analysis on the Home Office’s Dwellings Fires Dataset; this was a tremendously interesting and great experience!

How does your academic background apply to your internship?

My study of Maths served me very well throughout this internship since it allowed me to quickly grasp a myriad of mathematical topics. My background in programming was even more useful when it came to building the Fire Engineering app. I found being able to apply these skills in a professional environment very rewarding.

What advice would you give to students considering an internship with Ashton Fire?

I would advise any students considering this internship not to pass up the opportunity; I feel very privileged to have been taken on by Ashton Fire and to be given the opportunity to explore this fascinating and niche field whilst also being able to expand on my programming ability.

Isaac Ravenhill

What initially sparked your interest in pursuing an internship with Ashton Fire?

I met Adam Taylor at a university career fair and had a brilliant conversation about the field of fire engineering and how it is developing. It was clear from my discussion with Adam that Ashton Fire is not only providing creative and exciting fire engineering solutions, but they are also involved in ongoing research to improve a rapidly growing discipline.

I wanted to do an internship somewhere making a positive impact on society and Ashton Fire clearly fit this, alongside showing promise for working closely with very experienced fire engineers.

What experiences and knowledge have you gained, and what has the internship taught you about the role of a fire engineer?

The internship provided invaluable experience and knowledge of fire engineering, but more so how to approach different problems as they arise. One aspect of the internship that made it very easy to gain valuable knowledge was the small company atmosphere, and being in an office where I was sat next to experts in the field of fire engineering, and CFD modelling in particular. My colleagues were always happy to answer any questions I had, explaining complex concepts in a very understandable and logical way.

The internship has demonstrated the responsibility involved with fire engineers and how lots of challenges with building design can be tackled through logical engineering judgement and modelling, not just through strictly following guidance documents. The fire engineer must also understand why certain measures are used for certain situations and how solutions can be tailored to the need of different types of construction.

Do you have any highlights or memorable moments from your time here?

I was lucky enough my internship overlapped with a whole company trip to Bruges, which involved the different offices from across the country coming together for a company event. This was invaluable and being able to interact with so many fire engineers of different specialisms and experience gave me vast insight into the fire engineering world and different career paths within the industry. I also gained an insight into the industry as a whole and the role Ashton Fire currently plays. Everyone I met whilst away who worked for Ashton was super friendly and welcoming. This was only a replication of the Manchester office atmosphere, where I have made great friendships with colleagues who made my experience so enjoyable.

Thanks so much to Joseph and Issac for sharing their experience with us. It was great having you both onboard and part of the team.

If you’d like to join our intern programme, please click here