Managing Director of fire-safety training company who vowed to make a difference after Grenfell wins two national awards

The Managing Director of a Lincoln fire-safety training company is celebrating after winning not one but two national engineering awards.

Tom Brookes, MD of Zzeus Training Ltd, won both the Skills Champion of the Year Award and the coveted Best of British Engineering prize at the Enginuity Skills Awards 2022.

The awards, which were held in London on Thursday night, celebrate the very best of British engineering and manufacturing.

Mr Brookes was inspired to ‘do his small bit to make a difference’ after seeing what happened at Grenfell Tower.

He said the impact of the 2017 fire, which claimed the lives of 72 people, had left a lasting impact on him and made him want to ensure what happened that day is never repeated.

‘I have been part of the working groups after Grenfell and have been looking particularly at the competence of fire alarm engineers.

‘The country has got very few qualified fire-alarm engineers and after Grenfell we need qualified people.

‘I can only do a small part but if I can get fire alarm engineers up to a high level where they are more skilled, more qualified, more competent, I think I have done my little bit.

‘We need to do a lot more, but for me that’s the only thing I can do, with the skills I’ve got. If I can raise a few engineers to that level, then I’ll be happy.’

He added: ‘Zzeus have tried to create an environment for people within the fire-alarm industry to have a qualification.

‘This is not just school leavers, this is people up to their fifties and sixties who, historically, have had no qualifications in fire-alarm engineering.

‘We also have the younger guys who have been let down by normal schooling in my opinion, where schools just think people are academic and sometimes, they are not.

‘Sometimes they need logical thinking or an engineering qualification.

‘To see the younger guys who have suddenly got qualifications when they have been let down by other schools and colleges is fantastic.’

Chief Executive Officer at Enginuity, Ann Watson, said: ‘It was wonderful to see so many brilliant apprentices, learners and companies being awarded and celebrated.

‘We have a remarkable depth of talent and enthusiasm at work throughout our sectors.

‘Enginuity’s charitable mission is to help give engineers the opportunity to change their world and ours and these awards are the perfect opportunity to recognise their efforts.

‘This is particularly important when it comes to supporting those who are starting or developing their careers, as well as enabling industry to bridge the skills gap.

‘I’d like to thank everyone who made the night such a success and of course, congratulate our very deserving winners.’

For more information about the awards, visit enginuity.org/news-events/skills-awards/