A day in the life of a fire chief and team-builder

Some might imagine his to be a demanding enough role in itself , and they’d be right, but Paul has other irons in the fire.

The 40-year-old Crumlin man also directs leadership, management and team development consultancy, Jetric, Institute of Leadership and Management approved specialists in developing and training others in the essential non-technical skills to improve personal, team and organisational goals across sport, education, community and business sectors.

The outdoor component of Jetric’s activities has a place too at the Coffee Barn, itself a team effort for Paul and his wife Lisa, its Divis and Black Mountain National Trust location providing a good platform for team development sessions.

Oh, and in his ‘spare’ time, Paul is studying for a Master’s Degree.

When he’s working a 9am-6pm shift (he also works two overnights - 6pm to 9am -twice a week ) his day gets off to an early start.

He says: “I get up and get my 10-year-old son Jake organised for school.

“Then I’ll cycle into work at Central Fire Station (Belfast) about 7am. I get there about 8am.

“I’ll have a quick cup of tea and a shower and then get ready for the handover from the off-going shift.

“After that our day is just completely dynamic.

“There could be visits to schools and others to businesses, for fire safety training.

“Then of course there’s our operational calls and our own training.

“ That all has to be done between 9am and 6pm.

“A lot of my role personally is in training delivery and in catching up on administration and paperwork.

“When I come off shift I’ll cycle home again and get dinner before taking Jake to boxing at the Townland Amateur Boxing Club just outside Glenavy .

“While Jake’s at boxing I’ll walk the dog, called Lance.

“Then I pick up Jake and it’s back home for some family time.

“For my Master’s Degree I do try to spend an hour or so writing my dissertation on leadership and team-working under pressure.

“Then it’s off to bed.”