Fire Alarm & Emergency Lighting – Trainee Estimator / Coordinator
(New role
• Full-time
• Southampton-based)
About Us
RFA Contractors Ltd is a small but steadily growing facilities services business on the South Coast. We hold NSI Fire Gold accreditation and deliver fire alarm, emergency lighting, and planned-maintenance services for a range of clients.
To meet increasing demand, we're introducing a new trainee role to support our Fire Alarm & Emergency Lighting designer, who currently leads this work.
The Role
This is a developmental position for someone who is technically minded, organised, and ready to build a career in the fire-safety sector.
You'll support the small-works division by learning how to estimate and coordinate jobs – ranging from straightforward detector and panel replacements to simple emergency-lighting upgrades and some planned-maintenance services delivered by our partner contractors.
As part of your development you'll receive:
* Structured in-house mentoring from our experienced designer
* Access to recognised Fire Alarm training modules covering design, installation, commissioning and maintenance to BS 5839, plus Emergency Lighting to BS 5266
* Hands-on exposure to real projects, from enquiry through to completion
We want to be clear: because this is a career-start role, commitment and patience are essential – you'll be learning step by step, and your knowledge and responsibilities will grow over time.
Key Responsibilities
* Assist in preparing quotations for fire alarm and emergency-lighting small works
* Help to coordinate engineers and subcontractors, ensuring jobs are scheduled and delivered smoothly
* Provide technical and administrative support – such as O&M manuals, certificates, and completion documentation
* Learn the full process of project delivery, from first enquiry to final sign-off
* Liaise with clients, suppliers, and our internal team to help keep jobs on track
What We're Looking For
* A genuine interest in technical systems and a desire to build a career in the fire-alarm & emergency-lighting field
* Commitment and patience to learn – we'll teach you, but you need to want to grow with the role
* Good communication and organisation skills, and attention to detail
* Basic IT skills (Microsoft Office)
* Previous experience in an electrotechnical or building-services environment would be an advantage, but is not essential
What We Offer
* Formal external training alongside in-house mentoring
* A supportive small-team environment with direct exposure to the work of an experienced designer
* A genuine opportunity to grow into a skilled estimator / coordinator in a specialist field
* A chance to join a company that values quality, compliance, and professionalism, holding NSI Gold accreditation
This is an excellent opportunity for someone at the start of their career or looking to move into a specialist technical field.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £29,796.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* On-site parking
* Sick pay
Work Location: In person