[CCH Concepts]

how would everyone suggest going about getting a job in pyro in Essex. as anyone who has read my posts would know i am at best a novice. but i have a decent engineering back ground with transferable skills and am very eager to to find a position with the prospect to progress.

any thoughts?

[Arthur Brown]

Join the Army! One of the engineers regiments should allow you to do engineering and real pyro. And you will get all the clearances needed to do HE or fireworks or SFX pyro in life after the Army.

[CCH Concepts]

i have considered the army. but with gf family etc just not a route i want to go down. what i would like is a local company where i can start to learn the trade. i have applied to a few through email but its hardly the best way and not surprisingly i haven't had a response.

[Mortartube]

You could always try Tom Archer at Essex Pyrotechnics in Saffron Walden. You may get some work on displays at first even if it's voluntary for the first 2 or 3.

[Arthur Brown]

The Army has a recruiting office, all fireworks companies have a defence mechanism against all applicants! ESPECIALLY at this time of year. No fireworks firm wants untrained, inexperienced staff on a firing site in the dark and in the busy season. Much better to learn about firing site life in the daylight in preparation for a later show.

[CCH Concepts]

after the fireworks season how would you suggst going about finding a company to apply to and how to apply. i am serious about a career in pyro. there must be a way of getting into a company without experience and working my way up. i would prefer manurfacture to display, but any experience would be welcome.

[crystal palace fireworks]

Other than what has already been mentioned by arthur & mortartube, you will find very little on offer in terms of manufacturing fireworks for entertainment use.

My advice would be to look for jobs in loosely related fields;

Demolition.

MOD contracted/defence companies (there was a trade fair at the excel centre london last month).

Go to your local library (they normally have a reference library,..try southend central library) and ask for kelly`s directory or the like (it will list companies in related fields), also ask to see a list of trade associations linked to engineering and the chemical industry.

It would also be worth trying to find consultancy or recruitment businesses that specilize in the above fields.

Be prepared to offer your services in a voluntary capacity just to get a toe in.

[phildunford]

CCH Concepts, on 27 October 2009 - 09:06 PM, said:

after the fireworks season how would you suggst going about finding a company to apply to and how to apply. i am serious about a career in pyro. there must be a way of getting into a company without experience and working my way up. i would prefer manurfacture to display, but any experience would be welcome.

Many companies will take you on. They all need firers if they are getting any work! They will not pay you for some time though... You just need to be polite, willing and persistant.

Although the army may be a route to HE if that is what people are interested in it's also a route to being prematurely killed or crippled in pointless foreign wars - a price too high for most of us...

[CCH Concepts]

Mortartube, on 27 October 2009 - 08:57 PM, said:

You could always try Tom Archer at Essex Pyrotechnics in Saffron Walden. You may get some work on displays at first even if it's voluntary for the first 2 or 3.

sorry missed that post. cheers, how would you suggest approching them?

[CCH Concepts]

although from an engineering point of view i have an interest in HE from a weapons point of view. i tried for several years to get an entry level position to no avail. at present i will be more than happy to have a job doing something i enjoy. starting on a voluntary basis on weekends isn't a problem.

[Night Owl]

Well said Phil

I dont think its a good idea to try pushing budding pyros into the army, pyro is art and entertainment, Army has nothing to do with that!

[CCH Concepts]

i do agree with what has been said here. i have no need to go out and kill. i would be interested in the defense industry. the idea of developing a system like the raper system really does it for me. but its next to impossible to get into defense companies.

[crystal palace fireworks]

CCH Concepts, on 27 October 2009 - 11:09 PM, said:

i do agree with what has been said here. i have no need to go out and kill. i would be interested in the defense industry. the idea of developing a system like the raper system really does it for me. but its next to impossible to get into defense companies.

CCH Concepts, If your keen on HE and the like,..... why don`t you telephone the `Excel Centre` and ask for the contact details of the event organiser who arranged the contactors defence trade fair last month, try to get an invite for next year,...you will meet the sales people who work for these companies at face level, you can then asking about issues like security vetting at government level etc....its called networking (putting yourself about).

This post has been edited by crystal palace fireworks: 27 October 2009 - 11:29 PM

[Mortartube]

CCH Concepts, on 27 October 2009 - 10:50 PM, said:

sorry missed that post. cheers, how would you suggest approching them?

Give them a phone. Offer your services on displays for free at first to get a bit of experience. Explain a bit about yourself but don't be really gushing about how much you want to do it. Just approach them on a normal calm level and say that you are very interested and would like to make a career out of it, not just a five minute wonder. Also offer to e-mail your contact details and available dates to them so they can keep you on file. Bits of scribbled paper from phone calls get lost at this time of year.

If you get to speak to Tom Archer, just say that Keith Johnson formerly of Panther Fireworks recommended that you contact him.

Here's their website.

http://www.essex-pyrotechnics.co.uk/

[CCH Concepts]

Thanks alot. Ill get right on that.