Collaborative training championed by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Siderise

The partnership began earlier this year, when the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service approached Maesteg-based Siderise for bespoke training materials to support internal development. Rather than simply supplying resources, Siderise’s training manager Elan Penn offered to deliver on-site training that was tailored to the Fire and Rescue Service’s needs.

The initial visit received positive feedback from the Fire and Rescue Service. As such, Penn was invited back to deliver two further training sessions for senior members of staff from multiple departments.

The training was designed to afford attendees a clear understanding of how high-rise buildings present fire risks and the products that can be used to reduce those risks. Topics covered during the sessions included common façade types, the appropriate passive fire protection measures needed to protect them and how these measures are designed to work.

This training is now being formally integrated into South Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s competency framework, with attendees receiving a certification of attendance from Siderise and a formal certificate from the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. That’s a significant step forward towards aligning real-world fire scenarios with technical understanding.

Raising the standard

Jason Lamport, Group manager for the high-rise team at the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, explained: “We learned so much and really welcomed not only the training, but also the hospitality. The training will be passed on to our crews and commanders and has been invaluable to us as a team.”

Richard Higson, fire officer for the high-rise team at the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, observed: “The feedback from our Fire and Rescue Service personnel has been excellent. The quality of the training was appreciated by all. We are fortunate to have Siderise as a resource within our area.”

Elan Penn concluded: “When Fire and Rescue Services and manufacturers work together, we raise the standard for safety and accountability. We are delighted to support the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service as it seeks to expand the knowledge and skills of its personnel. We’re not just sharing product knowledge. We’re also helping to build competency across the fire sector and the country at a time when education underpinning building safety is needed more than ever.”

*Further information is available online at www.siderise.com