The main stakeholders that HSE works with on Fire issues are:
Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser - Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for England and Wales is Sir Ken Knight and he is the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser for the British Government, advising on policy, procedures and legislative changes affect the UK Fire Service. The Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser and his team provide strategic advice and guidance to ministers, civil servants, fire and rescue services in England and other stakeholders (including devolved administrations) on the structure, organisation and performance of the Fire and Rescue Service. The Office of the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser is also responsible for the production of operational guidance.
Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) - Representing the most senior officers, CFOA is the main mechanism for getting sign-up by the Fire Service and for engaging the key professionals in H&S issues, through their H&S Committee.
Communities and Local Government (CLG) - Responsible for creating conditions in which the Fire and Rescue Service is able to provide an effective service to the communities it serves. Fire and Rescue and Rescue Services are delivered in England by 46 Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) of differing size and structure. Central government provides a statutory framework and allocates financial resources through Revenue Support Grant and other means. Communities and Local Government also funds the Fire Resilience Programme which aims to deliver increased capability and national resilience.
Fire Brigades Union (FBU) - By far the largest Union representing over 85% of the uniformed staff of the UK fire and service. Members are frontline public service workers - covering the roles of Firefighter to Area Manager, including emergency fire control staff and firefighters working the retained duty system.
Fire Officers' Association (FOA) - FOA membership is open to all UK Fire and Rescue Service employees.
Fire Service College - The Fire Service College is responsible for providing leadership, management and advanced operational training courses for senior fire officers from the UK and foreign fire authorities. It is an executive agency and comes under the authority of the Communities and Local Government (CLG). It does not provide initial training for recruit firefighters; this training is provided by fire authorities at local or regional training establishments.
Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE)
Practitioners' Forum - The Practitioners Forum is the body through which practioners and stakeholders in the fire industry work together to provide advice to Government on policy development. It is the driving force in managing change and implementing reforms in the fire and rescue service. CFOA has a pivotal role in this Forum, providing the chair and secretariat, thus ensuring that the strategic direction for the service is developed in the light of practical considerations, and that specific policy initiatives are consistent with working practices on the ground and are deliverable. It also provides professional advice, guidance and support to CLG and Fire and Rescue Authorities about the practical implementation of specific policy initiatives, constitutional reform and the improvement programme. HSE is represented on the Practitioners' Forum.
Retained Firefighters' Union (RFU) - The RFU represents serving personnel within the Retained Duty System (RDS). It is much smaller than the FBU, but an important partner when dealing with issues related to retained duty firefighters.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Advisory Unit - The Head of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Advisory Unit (SFRAU) provides independent advice to Scottish Ministers and government officials on fire and rescue related matters. SFRAU also works with Chief Fire Officers and their staff, both supporting, and where necessary, challenging them on issues such as their state of preparedness and their approach to managing risk. The Unit was set up in 2008 and replaces the former Scottish Fire Service Inspectorate.
Unison – Represents non-uniformed fire and rescue staff
Welsh Fire and Rescue Services - The Fire and Rescue Services branch sets the framework, policy, priorities and objectives for the fire and rescue services in Wales.
