Fire Conference and Exhibitions

May I extend to all delegates, visitors and exhibitors a warm welcome to Manchester.

The conference is especially appropriate this year as the UK Fire and Rescue Service continues its quest to offer the very best public service in what all must agree is the most challenging environment of recent years. The event itself continues to be a showcase of new ideas, whether in physical equipment or mental thoughts! And the presentations this year have been selected to help that essential process of improvement.

Because of the sheer breadth of the service role there are now three conferences and five workshops. Each is aimed at a distinct audience and one of the inevitable difficulties is deciding which one to go to.

The main conference has a theme that picks up the Service's rote of national protection and considers how the wider demands of firefighting and rescue can be best incorporated with social partners. The ongoing matter of regional management is also brought into focus by debate and finally there are the eagerly awaited speeches on behalf of the government and fire chiefs.

Alongside the three-day main conference are two one-clay conferences looking into building safety and management of risk. Likewise the half-day workshops set about questions of community safety, new dimension, procurement, research and innovation. And if that was not enough 'fringe' events are this year making a showing with part time staff and service culture finding champions.

If all that makes you tired don't miss out on the social activities that include for the very first time the launch of an Award Dinner to honour all in the fire business from the public and commercial world.

I am sure the whole event will prove to be interesting, enjoyable and good value in every way.

DENNIS DAVIS, CHAIRMAN, FIRE CONFERENCES AND EXHIBITIONS

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