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Maisy Williams, Highly Commended at this year’s Annual NFCC Apprenticeship Awards

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This month, as part of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Annual Conference, the annual Apprenticeship awards took place and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) nominated Maisy Williams from Red Watch Gloucester South for the ‘NFCC Apprentice of the Year’ award, for which she was shortlisted as a finalist. 

Although Maisy did not win, she was Highly Commended in the category and was shown recognition on stage. To get into the final of a national award, against such a large field of Firefighter Apprentices, is an outstanding achievement and to be recognised within the award category is even more special. 

Attending the NFCC Annual Conference and the NFCC Apprenticeship awards was Deputy Chief Fire Officer Nathaniel Hooton: “I was extremely pleased and honoured to be sitting with Maisy and her father during the award ceremony. The pride, professionalism and dedication shown by Maisy in her apprenticeship journey and firefighter career was humbling and aspiring. Maisy and her achievements are a credited to herself, her family, GFRS and GCC. To quote Eleanor Roosevelt, the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”  

Maisy became one of Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s first cadets and proved to be an all-round team player with her natural attributes, allowing her to become the first cadet Crew Manager. In 2022, after displaying a great deal of determination and commitment, Maisy joined GFRS as a wholetime firefighter. 

At her initial training at the Fire Service College, she won the Silver Axe for consistently achieving a high standard in both practical and technical aspects of the course. Maisy embodies resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. 

In addition to Maisy’s nomination, Ben Dodd from Blue Watch Gloucester North was nominated by Capita. Capita oversees all of the Apprentices that go through the Fire Service College, which for the period this award covers, has been over 400. Ben Dodd was the only nomination Capita put forward for the ‘Apprentice of the Year’, which again is a massive achievement. 

GFRS are very proud of both Maisy and Ben – well done!