New Chairman for FIA's FIRESA Council

In this, my first article in my new position as the FIA’s FIRESA Council Chairman, I wish to use the opportunity to draw attention to the constructive and consultative work our council carries out in its role as the voice for all suppliers to Fire & Rescue Services and associated parties.

To justify its existence, it is vital for any trade body to have identifiable ‘raisons d’êtres’; things of true importance to the sector as a whole to campaign on, lobby for and ensure the interests of the entire membership are served by any changes and improvements to the market we manage to make. Arguments and debates on these matters should be balanced, nuanced, consistent and never parochial. It is important I believe that any proposed government/departmental policy changes are not of detriment to the supply sector and not at risk of negatively affecting the vibrant, competitive and innovative market in which we exist.

Customers in any market require an effective supply sector unencumbered by over-politicised or fad-based procurement policies. Excellent communication between all stakeholders in a market is fundamental to each understanding the other and to ensure that total trust can be enjoyed between suppliers and the customers we serve.

In our modern economy, it’s really important that suppliers consistently act with transparency and propriety. Only then can we be expected to be fully trusted by our customers to allow for true two-way engagement on issues of procurement, product assessment & trials and national tenders. Getting this two-way relationship right is a potent force and can deliver excellent and lasting improvement for customers and suppliers alike. An example of how powerful a force this can be is in the culmination of the creation of the UK FRS R&D Centralised Appraisal and Testing function which is now being run by the FRS and overseen by the NFCC. As in any partnership; cooperation, negotiation and sometimes concession are important elements in ensuring a healthy and sustainable future relationship.

The FIA’s FIRESA council, by working in close partnership with Fire & Rescue Services, The Fire Service College, CFOA (now the NFFC) and other industry experts, spent many years lobbying; making the consistent argument and describing the clear goal that is Collaborative Testing and Research & Development work outside of the procurement work streams. So successful was our campaign that the UK Fire Service RDTI Hub was cited by the prime minister in parliament as a great example of how private and public sector can work together to create efficiencies - What an excellent example of what can be achieved via great communication and working together to improve the sector as a whole…

It is vital for a trade association council such as FIRESA to ensure that the interests of all members with their diverse products and services across the entire sector are catered for. This will ensure that FIA FIRESA remains inclusive and relevant to all including its members, customers and policy makers in government.

With adaptations to governance in the FRS including the move from CFOA to the NFCC and last year’s change in overarching control and policy from DCLG to the Home office, this is an unprecedented period of transition in our sector. Throw the Brexit challenge into the mix and growth in the UK domestic market is far from certain. It is for this reason that export should be an extremely important part of all businesses’ strategy for growth.

The UK remains somewhere that overseas policy makers look to for guidance on best practice in all areas of fire protection and firefighting operational excellence. A frictionless relationship between suppliers and UKFRS would allow the FIA to assist in effectively exporting the UK’s firefighting expertise in support of its UK suppliers thus ensuring that the profile of ‘UK Fire plc’ continues to develop in every corner of the world. We should be proud of the fire heritage that we have in the UK and via initiatives like the JIFB (joint international fire board), have confidence that we are exporting UK Fire plc’s excellence in the most effective way possible. The way to do that is by real public/private partnership delivering and driving continuous improvement in how and what we as an entire sector do. How good would it be to have another supply sector/FRS partnership success cited by the PM?

Specifically on export; I believe it important for the FIA to proportionately, legally and when commercially appropriate; give support to British based businesses in their export efforts and in encouraging UK FRS and look towards British-based businesses for supply where possible. Again, this will encourage the sustainability of a vibrant, competitive and innovative domestic market also fit for export.

Whether exporting to some far flung country or servicing a local Fire Service’s pumps and ladders, we are most fortunate to be involved in this excellent sector and through collaboration at all levels, we can outperform the economy, outperform other sectors and, despite the headwinds and challenges we face, continue to be an innovative, progressive, dynamic and therefore exciting sector in which to operate.