FIA heralds “standout year” at The Fire Safety Event 2026

With strong visitor numbers throughout, the Trade Association’s stand at the NEC became a central hub for networking, collaboration and conversation, welcoming members, partners and industry professionals old and new.

Reflecting on the three days in Birmingham from 28-30 April, the FIA’s events manager Ryan Brassil said: “The Fire Safety Event 2026 was a fantastic opportunity to bring the industry together once again. We were incredibly proud of the FIA’s presence this year, from the level of engagement at our stand through to the success of the Guidance Theatre and the Newcomer of the Year competition.”

A standout feature of this year’s event was indeed the FIA’s Newcomer of the Year competition, which generated significant attention and discussion throughout the exhibition. The competition showcased the incredible talent, professionalism and enthusiasm of individuals entering the fire industry, duly highlighting the importance of supporting and developing future talent within the sector.

Emma Francioli, technical officer at the FIA, praised the commitment and professionalism shown throughout the competition. Francioli noted: “What stood out most throughout the competition was the level of care, focus and professionalism shown by every participant. Although early in their careers, the individuals involved approached each task with patience, diligence and real attention to detail. Competency matters when it comes to fire safety and it was genuinely encouraging to see such a strong understanding of the importance of working carefully, taking responsibility and making sure everything’s right.”

FIA Guidance Theatre

Alongside the competition, the FIA’s Guidance Theatre once again proved to be a key attraction during The Fire Safety Event, delivering a programme of expert-led sessions featuring a mix of FIA representatives, FIA Council members and industry experts from across the fire sector.

The Guidance Theatre afforded visitors valuable insight, practical guidance and informed discussion on many of the key issues currently shaping the fire sector.

Speaking about the success of the Guidance Theatre, Will Lloyd (head of technical at the FIA) observed: “The FIA’s Guidance Theatre once again delivered an excellent platform for sharing knowledge and practical guidance with the industry. The quality of speakers and the engagement from attendees throughout the event was exceptional. It was fantastic to see so many meaningful discussions taking place and such strong interest in the important topics affecting fire safety professionals today.”

Team effort

The FIA recognises the tremendous efforts of the entire FIA team, whose hard work and dedication behind the scenes helped to make The Fire Safety Event such a success. From planning and logistics to delivering activities across the stand, the theatre and the competition areas, the team worked tirelessly to ensure a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Ryan Brassil added: “It was brilliant to see so many people connecting, learning and sharing ideas. A huge thank you goes to everyone involved: our team, sponsors, speakers and visitors, all of whom helped to make it such a memorable few days.”

The FIA would also like to extend a sincere thank you to all sponsors, speakers, partners and supporters who contributed to this year’s edition of The Fire Safety Event and helped make it one of the most successful to date.

Nineteen Group – organiser of The Fire Safety Event – has issued compelling statistics underpinning this year’s iteration of the trade show. Across the three days in Birmingham, there were upwards of 13,000 attendees and 279 exhibiting businesses.

The Fire Safety Event 2027 runs at the NEC in Birmingham from 27-29 April.

*Further information is available online at www.fia.uk.com