Fire Protection Advisor Kate Peacock

“I like being out and about – I’m not someone who can sit at a desk all day. I get out into the community, meet a huge variety of people, hopefully give them valuable advice and most importantly, really feel like I’m making a difference.”

Before joining the fire service in 2007, Kate says her role as a health, safety and environment officer working for an international company meant she wasn’t able to spend as much time with her family as she wanted to.

She explains: “The great thing about my job now is that I’m part time and have flexible working so it’s a good work-life balance. I spend more time with my family and have been able to stay local and enjoy the little things like attending milestones in my daughter’s life.

“The job is so varied and there are a huge range of tasks that fire protection advisors are involved in. Mainly, it is about enforcing the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, which also includes an obligation by us to provide advice to businesses.”

Kate had also worked as a sales representative and a horse riding instructor previously and said transferable skills like interpersonal communication, empathy and being flexible, all help. The Service has also been able to support Kate after she discovered she was dyslexic by helping to develop ways to adapt her working.

“The best thing about working here is the variety of the role and the flexibility.”