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Fireworks training is essential for anyone thinking of displaying fireworks to the public or following a career as a professional firer. With many different courses on offer throughout the UK, picking the right one is important to ensure you receive both good training and recognised qualifications. We visited one company that can offer all this and more and at great value too - 1st Galaxy Fireworks.
Fireworks can be very dangerous if they are not set-up and fired correctly. But a full-blown public display has many other important considerations too. "Correct safety distances and ensuring the fireworks are suitable for the venue are just a few of dozens of points to consider when displaying to the pubic" explained Lee Smith at 1st Galaxy Fireworks. "Without training, you are quite simply playing with fire. And, if you want a career as a professional firer, some form of training is now considered mandatory". Insurance is another critical factor for public and professional displays. "Some insurance companies can, rightly, insist that you are suitably trained before giving you any cover at all" confirmed Lee.
There have been many different courses over the past few years which have covered various aspects of firing but they all have one thing in common: They are not seen by the industry or insurance companies as giving recognised qualifications to display professionally. One course and qualification that has emerged to become the standard for professional firers recently is the BPA's which has three parts. 1st Galaxy focus on the first two, Level 1 and Level 2.
"BPA Level 1 is, if you like, a display operator's qualification and Level 2 is a display manager's" explains Lee. "So, if you want to be a display crew member, Level 1 would be sufficient. However if you want to progress further and take charge of a show, you would need Level 2". Level 1 for example covers the basics of each type of firework before looking at the different types of fusing used in a show. Important aspects of show layout are covered along with firing techniques and risk assessments. Level 2 expands on this further with more advanced fuse techniques, electrical firing and more difficult venues such as rooftops and barges. It is a requirement of the BPA courses that candidates undertake practical, real life display experience too. Typically you would complete the classroom training and then do a number of shows (eg. three or more for Level 1) before then sitting the BPA exam.
1st Galaxy Fireworks have a reputation for staging some incredible shows so it is not surprising that they're an ideal company to offer the BPA training courses. Their training venue is located at their HQ in Ravenshead which is just a short drive from the M1 (J27).
The venue itself boasts a room built specifically for training. It is spacious with modern facilities such as an overhead projector linked to a PC. This all contributes to a very pleasant environment to work in. There is ample parking on site. 1st Galaxy offer training geared to any needs. Whether you want to become a professional firer and have no current experience or are a crew member with another company, they can help.
The BPA Level 1 course is currently £69+VAT (discount sometimes possble for UKFR readers, please ask)* for a day's training for customers looking to continue with 1st Galaxy for practical show experience too (more on this shortly). "Our prices are already very competitive" says Lee. "But we also include tea, coffee and lunch too, as we do like to look after our customers". Corporate training (eg. training other companies firers) is also available and is normally done on a block booking for a set fee for the day. The BPA Exam which you would need to take to complete the training and gain your qualification is currently priced at £39+VAT.
If you have not yet crewed on a professional fireworks display, you will need to gain some experience after taking your training and before you can sit your exam. Now this is where things get very exciting. "Once you have completed your course, we can put you on our books" advised Lee. "Then you can get on-the-job training at our displays under the supervision of experienced firers. We do not charge for that, and it benefits both parties." This looks like just the type of thing that many of our members have been waiting for - a way of getting recognised fireworks training and be involved with shows too. 1st Galaxy have displays all over the UK, how quickly you can qualify depends on how flexible you are with travelling. Basically if you're prepared to travel anywhere in the UK then you should be able to progress pretty quickly. While you're training you can enjoy discount too from 1st Galaxy's retail outlets. It gets even better though! Once you have passed your BPA Level 1, involvement in future 1st Galaxy displays would class you as a qualified firer. That means you will also get paid for your work! And if that's not all, when you're a trained firer you'll get additional staff discount off the company's retail range. In fact many UKFR members have followed exactly this route with 1st Galaxy and are now very happy indeed to be firing professionally.
This feature is now out of date. Please return to the UKFR home page, click here. ©2006 UK Firework Review. All rights reserved. * Prices quoted correct at time of going to press (2006) but are subject to change. Refer to 1st Galaxy for current prices. Discounted rate applies to UKFR members undertaking non-corporate Level 1 training, subject to availability and acceptance by 1st Galaxy. E&OE. |
There's nothing on Earth like the
feeling of firing a pro display. Training is essential for
both your
The BPA training course offered by 1st Galaxy Fireworks is
superb value for money. The training is extremely informative
and engrossing. As part of the course you get an A4 binder
containing all the notes that you could possibly need to get
you through both BPA Level 1 and Level 2 including a section
to keep details of the live training you have completed. 
- UKFR member David Poyton.
BPA Level 1 and Level 2 courses and exams in a modern, central venue.
