advice and checklists for businesses as well as homeowners. With the support of insurers, the FPA developed a user friendly guide titled Managing Fire Safety at Work, which was printed and freely distributed in the hundreds of thousands. This dissemination of free, impartial and high quality advice was core to the FPA back then, and holds true today. In 2004, the FPA relocated from its London


offices to Moreton-in-Marsh as part of government plans to develop a Centre of Fire Excellence. Approximately half of my colleagues made the move to Gloucestershire, and the rest looked for new opportunities. The decision to relocate wasn’t as difficult for me as probably other colleagues; my home town is Ross-on-Wye, which meant I could be closer to family and friends, and with my countryside/ farm life upbringing, I found life a little too fast paced in London!


This has been the home of the FPA ever


since. The organisation has grown substantially in my time to have over double the number of full time employees, and with a first class practical training and testing centre a few miles down the road. During my time, I was made responsible for


RISCAuthority – the insurer property research scheme. This was an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding time, learning about the key issues and concerns of major commercial insurers, and how by working collaboratively and investing not insignificant sums of money, they could raise the standard bar for business and property resilience. More recently, I was made head of membership, and along with a very small team of dedicated and highly skilled colleagues, we’ve looked to make changes to the benefits enjoyed by members, and the journal you receive monthly. It’s disappointing to leave before the plans in place have been fully executed, but I’m sure whoever takes over will share the passion for quality delivery and service to our members. Of course, the industry continues


to remain in the shadow of the events of 14 June 2017. Like many in the industry, that date will remain with me to my final days. I recall waking up early to a host of messages from our insurer members, concerned over the rapid fire spread and intensity. I had to drive to AIRMIC in Birmingham that morning, and the mood in the hall was sombre. It was the RISCAuthority member seminar in Manchester the next day, an event I would not normally lose sleep over – a straightforward and enjoyable day networking with our member insurers. This turned out to be anything but, as director Dr Jim Glockling was in evidently


high demand with media outlets. ITV film crews arrived on site from early morning; I spent the night before arranging access with the Manchester University facilities team, who were rightly worried about the change in our circumstances. Our PR manager at the time sent across a list of interview appointments Jim had scheduled in that day, and how he got through them all amazes me still. From filming with ITV and Sky News through to interviews with LBC Radio, BBC 5 Live and The Daily Telegraph, finishing late on in an empty lecture theatre under the spotlight of Channel 4’s cameras, it was an intense 48 hours. Since then, my team has delivered


hundreds of documents to the public inquiry, reported extensively on the industry response and progress to the Hackitt Review’s findings, and developed a series of seminars helping all stakeholders understand how the industry might look and operate post Grenfell – it has been pretty full on. Personally, in that time I also got married and had a little girl, Bonnie! I have made many friends within the fire


and insurance industry, and I am sad to leave so many highly talented, professional yet warm hearted colleagues. But I’m excited for the future and the start of a new chapter, and it’s the right move for my new family. In summary, my overriding thought about


the fire industry is one of incredibly skilled, knowledgeable, loyal and hardworking people striving to make a difference and helping to protect people, property, the welfare of businesses, staff and assets from the total devastation fire can cause. A lot has been achieved in the time I have worked in the industry, but it’s plainly obvious that more needs to be done


New members


A warm welcome to members joining us this month, including:


• Alan Salkeld – HML PM Ltd • Graham Crane – Alert Locksmiths • Andrew Morrison – Keegans • Christopher Hembery – Suppression Solutions (Manufacturing) Ltd


• David Lamb – Compliance+ • Kevin Howlette – Emergency Fire & Safety Ltd


• Paul N Allen – PNA Associates Ltd


• Rebecca Brough – New Look Retailers


• John Glazebrook – Glazebrook Associates Ltd


• Noble Lee – LDN Electrical


www.frmjournal.com JUNE 2019


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