A word from the FirePro Committee Chair

It is often said that in evolution, it’s not about survival of the fittest, but survival of those who adapt.

And so we find ourselves as a sector and a profession continually striving to adapt to changes around us and take those evolutionary steps. 

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With the final round of HMICFRS reports due out later this year, an uncertain national political situation, and ongoing change projects, the sector is certainly being kept on its toes.

I’m a firm believer that with all change, comes opportunity. And that’s where the sector and we as communicators need to grasp the opportunities change brings. Because any change needs good communications, and our leaders are looking to us to support them through these times.

FirePRO has been adapting too. Over the course of the year, we have worked to strengthen the National Committee membership and clearly define our purpose.

This is so that we can focus our energy on activities that will help communicators across the sector adapt, develop and make the biggest impact.

This includes setting the standard for good communications in the sector, working with members and leaders to firmly embed communications as a strategic management function, opening doors to training and development opportunities for all fire and rescue communicators, and working closely with our partners in the NFCC and Home Office as a critical friend on national campaigns.

The first step for us is to understand what the world is like for communicators across the sector. And I’d like to thank everyone who has completed the sector-wide survey.

The insights you provide in the survey will help us to target our plans and training at the areas that will benefit you the most. It will also help us to look at how we grow FirePRO in the future to best support you as members. If you haven’t completed it yet, there’s still time! See details below.

Next up will be the annual FirePRO conference. Following on from 2018’s action-packed event, this year’s is going to be longer, have more interactive sessions than ever, and focus on some great topics linked to the sector as well as wider communications learning and discussion.

Early bird tickets are now on sale and details of speakers and sessions will be announced in coming weeks. We’ll also be announcing a further programme of training events in the new year. Watch this space!

We want to hear about all the great work you are doing, so if you have a campaign or piece of work you are proud of, share it with us fireprocomms@gmail.com

Paul Compton

Head of Communications and Engagement, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, and Chair of FirePRO