It’s National Apprenticeships Week. So let’s talk about what happens when you invest in people from day one.

In 2010, Craig Mitchell walked into Trinity Fire & Security Systems as an apprentice.

Not knowing that sixteen years later, he’d be setting the technical direction for the entire business.

Craig started where all the best technical leaders should: on site. Installing fire alarms. Running cables. Learning what happens when a system fails at 2am in a hospital.

He wasn’t learning theory. He was learning consequences.

From there, he moved into service and commissioning – mastering networked fire systems and cause-and-effect logic on live, occupied buildings. 

Then project management, delivering safety-critical systems across healthcare, defence and education. High stakes. No room for error.

Then design – not just drawing systems, but shaping compliant, buildable solutions that raised the bar across the business.

By 2023, Craig was leading Trinity’s national design and estimating function.

And this January? He became our Technical Director.

So what does a Technical Director actually do?

Craig owns the technical backbone of the business.

He sets standards. Ensures compliance. Leads technical assurance. Builds capability across teams.

He runs our Technical Centre of Excellence, acts as senior authority on the most complex projects and creates the frameworks that deliver quality and confidence at scale.

But here’s what matters most:

Craig leads with the perspective of someone who’s been an apprentice.

Apprenticeships aren’t just a route into work.

They’re a route to leadership.

Craig’s story proves it.

And it’s exactly why we continue to invest in apprentices because we’re not just filling roles.

We’re building the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of fire safety.

For more information about the careers available at Trinity click here.