Event to discuss future of fire

25 November 2011

How the UK builds a solid fire framework amidst a shrinking public purse is up for discussion at an event later this month.

IOSH Fire Risk Management Group chair Paul Graham is co-hosting a session at the Future of Fire Summit 2011 in Birmingham, on 28 and 29 November, which the Institution is now the lead sponsor of. It will focus on managing risk in a business environment and also signifies the opening of the Fire Futures Forum.

The event will also see the launch of the Fire Sector Partnership, bringing together public, private and voluntary sector partners to drive for change in the wake of the Fire Futures – the government’s recent strategic review of the fire sector in England.

Key speakers at The Future of Fire will include Fire Minister Bob Neill MP, the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) president Lee Howell, with special guest Lord Digby Jones.

Paul said: “We are still amidst one of the harshest recessions seen in decades, not only in the UK, but in Europe. While we’re seeing public sector cuts and funding difficulties, this summit is a must for safety professionals and  business leaders looking for ways to maintain protection on a tight budget.

“IOSH is pleased to sponsor this event, and believes it will show that collaborative working – especially with the launch of the Fire Sector Partnership – is the key for the future.”

The session, ‘Managing risk in the commercial estate’, will be co-hosted by Paul and Dr Jim Glocking, technical director at the Fire Protection Association. It will be a forum for leading fire professionals and  businesses to discuss how fire safety can be maintained and improved, following increased cuts and enforcement action.

Paul added: “I am particularly concerned with how our fire service continues to be effective, while representing value for money in the wider public purse. And also how businesses maintain resilience against the risks they face. Hopefully, this session will become a talking shop to look at how we move forward.”

Other considerations of this particular session will cover the demise of local building acts, whether there is a need for an integrated approach to Building Design Guidance and how the Fire and Rescue Service operates. It’ll also touch upon the issue of how fire research and development can benefit the community, and how fire safety in workplaces can be enforced in the most  effective and consistent way.

The event is run jointly by the Fire Sector Partnership, Fire Protection Association (FPA) and CFOA. FPA managing director Jonathan O’Neill said: “The Future of Fire Summit will provide a unique platform for fire professionals, politicians and other key stakeholders to debate recent sector developments and be part of creating a national fire framework for the future.”

To find out more information, visit the IOSH Fire Risk Management Group or The Future of Fire Summit websites. As IOSH is sponsoring the event, members of the Institution can book conference places at a discounted rate of £100 + VAT, instead of £180 + VAT.