Please introduce yourself and tell us about your career to date.
My name is Siobhan Pengelly. I work for Bell Group and I am the Branch Manager for our fire protection branch based in Plymouth. I obtained a BSc (Hons) degree in Quantity Surveying (QS) and following this started my career as a Quantity Surveyor. I joined Bell as a QS in January 2022 and quickly started learning about passive fire protection and fire safety. Since then, I have furthered my learning by becoming a Chartered Construction Manager with CIOB. I then enrolled in learning for the Level 3 Certificate in Passive Fire Protection and sat my exam in 2024. I now hold Technician Grade (TIFireE) membership with the IFE.
I have worked on a variety of fire safety remediation projects since joining Bell including those within hospitals, schools, universities, care homes, police stations and within the social housing sector.
Describe your role or position within your current workplace and describe what a typical working day looks like.
My role is to oversee and manage the passive fire protection works we undertake for our clients as a contractor. I manage a team of directly employed third party accredited passive fire installers and our works range from improving compartmentation through fire stopping seals and cavity barriers as well as the installation of certified fire doors. Our priority is providing compliant and high-quality installations on every project allowing us to enhance the lives of those using the buildings. My team is provided regular and relevant training for their roles to ensure we have knowledgeable and competent people on the ground. We also undertake regular compliance audits for quality assurance in compliance with our third-party accreditation.
Days are rarely typical in our fast-paced environment! I work closely with operational and commercial teams to ensure efficient, compliant projects and I hold weekly team updates and regular client meetings to support progress and build relationships. My role also involves developing and managing systems and procedures to monitor compliance and training which allows me to prepare for our annual third-party audits. Each project presents unique challenges, often requiring expert input for tailored solutions.
What do you find most enjoyable about your job?
I enjoy continually expanding my knowledge in this sector. There are so many individuals I connect with from both client side and consultant side who are keen to provide support and who are skilled in their roles within our industry. I continually aspire to improve our service and offer a variety of solutions for the specific needs of buildings and their end users. I enjoy working in a variety of locations in many different building types and to know that when we finish our work, we are leaving the building and its users in a safer place.
Is there a great professional achievement or high-profile accomplishment that you would like to tell us about in a previous role or your current one?
I feel lucky to have been working with teams who have allowed me to succeed in a few areas over the years but of late my biggest achievement would be accelerating my knowledge in a subject area that I was unfamiliar with before working at Bell. In a few short years I have been able to move from a commercial background to an operational and compliance role and obtain Technician grade membership with the IFE.
What inspired you to become an engineer or pointed you towards an engineering career?
It happened naturally in that I was in a commercial role working within a fire protection team where I gradually absorbed more knowledge which allowed me to focus on furthering my learning and obtaining qualifications to support my new career pathway. I hope to continue in that pattern of growth.
What prompted you to upgrade your membership after being an IFE Student member?
In an industry where competence is vital, I felt it was important to be able to evidence this and to have the recognition of being associated with the IFE. For me this was also a personal milestone and motivates me to continue my professional development and stay involved in ongoing conversations within the sector.
Which new benefits have you found most valuable since upgrading?
This is becoming more of a requirement within our area of the industry, particularly with clients in sectors such as local authorities, as this gives them confidence in their chosen contractor. Being a member of the IFE assures them of my competence as the manager of the branch and allows us to grow our client relationships as a team.
Would you recommend upgrading your IFE membership to others? If so, why?
I would recommend anyone within the fire safety sector to join. The industry is changing, and I believe that competence and knowledge is becoming more important as each year passes. This will allow you to set yourself apart and evidence that you take your role seriously, that you are committed to driving compliance and making our built environment safer.
Is there any advice you would pass on to IFE Student members who are considering upgrading their membership?
I would recommend taking your time when preparing your application. Think about your role and how it plays a part. Also remember to keep records of all CPD as this important for your application and is important to maintain following membership. Finally, keep track of any notable projects and incorporate this where possible as it will make your application easier.