Message from the Chair
7 April 2012
Welcome to my second message as Chair of the Fire Risk
Management Group (FRMG) Committee. At last count, the group's
membership stood at 3172. This is an increase of 134 since my
last message in November 2011.
Unfortunately I have to start with an apology to anyone who was
looking forward to our networking events in Belfast in November
2011 and in London in March 2012, as these were both cancelled.
A lot of work goes in to planning and holding events and our
committee and partners were disappointed that these events did not
go ahead: the Belfast event was cancelled due to poor
pre-event bookings, which stood at nine the week before the event;
and the IOSH event team were overloaded with demand throughout
March.
Do you think that, in the current economic climate, the
group should hold an annual conference which would move around the
UK and Ireland instead of continuing to hold our current smaller
networking events around the regions?
We are interested in receiving your thoughts on this.
Now that the new committee has had a chance to settle in you may
have noticed that our website is more active and we are hoping to
provide further improvements quite soon. Once again, please
contact us to put
forward any ideas.
Our group has a two hour 'Fire Sector Showcase' at the upcoming
Safety and Health Expo at the NEC on Thursday 17 May 2012 where we
will be featuring short presentations on:
- the Fire and Rescue National
Framework
- the Fire Sector Partnership
- a high-rise sprinkler
retro-fit
- fire safety engineering
If any of you are able to attend this event and offer your
valuable support then please make yourself known and I shall look
forward to meeting you.
A pre-market engagement exercise has recently commenced
following the recent Government decision to dispose of the Fire
Service College as a going concern to a private sector
company. The intention is that they continue to operate the
college as a training centre and, as a former instructor there in
the nineties, I hope that this means a much brighter future for all
concerned.
The Fire Sector Partnership in England continues to establish
itself on a firmer footing and recent developments may result in
merger with a respected fire sector organisation quite soon.
It is very important that the sector works more closely together in
achieving a safer society now that funding cuts have dimished the
capacity of the DCLG to operate effectively in this area.
The annual Fire Summit is expected to be held at Wembley Stadium
around 23 and 24 October, so make sure that you book the date in
your diary as last year's was well attended and informatvive.
Don't forget our two licensing events in June and October this
year, particularly if you work within the industry. My
previous enforcement experience and recent analysis tells me that
there is much to be achieved in this sector if it is to survive
continuing challenges and closures.
Until my next message please stay safe and here's looking
forward to a long leisurely summer!
Paul Graham
Chair, Fire Risk Management Group