ESS 2026 Content Programme

We open with a look at how the ambulance service is preparing itself to operate in a climate of extremes. How well do ambulances cope with extreme weather when it comes to fleet, equipment, staff and operational capability?

What can we do to ensure paramedics wellbeing is taken care of when the sun is beating down and shelter is at a premium? Be part of the discussion about what’s working, what needs more thought and how well the ambulance service of the future is resilient to climate threats. 

When disaster strikes, communities come together to respond and they also have a role in the prevention and mitigation space too. In this short ‘heads-up’ session, find out about the National Preparedness Commission report on Faith and Resilience and take the learning back your community.  

In the first of this two-part special session, former BBC Environment Editor, David Shukman leads the discussion how how well the emergency services are prepared to respond to climate threats. Starting with heat and wildfires, he draws on his latest book The Response, to frame a discussion with those leading the response to see what it’s really like to be at the frontline of climate change. 

The second part of our sessions where we frame this discussion around David Shukman’s book, The Response, sees the panel focused on flooding. David describes in breathtaking detail the impact of flooding on the residents of a north London suburb and the urban fire response, but what about those working in mountain and lowland rescue teams? What have we learned so far and how can we improve the response to what seems to be an increasing trend? 

This interactive session will challenge how confident you are in your organisation’s preparedness. It explores how the National Occupational Standards for Resilience and Emergencies support workforce development, and how a scenario-informed approach assesses preparedness in practice. It will explore how decision-making, coordination and workforce sustainability are tested under pressure - and what organisations can do to strengthen capability when it matters most. 

Returning to The Emergency Services Show for a second time, Lucy Easthope shares poignant stories that provide a ‘roadmap for resilience in the face of adversity.’  Armed with two decades of experience and her latest book, Come What May, Lucy brings her insights to this valuable fireside chat where she shows she is the perfect person to provide life-changing lessons for coping with crisis.  

In a world where no conversation is complete without at least one reference to AI, how do those who are responding to crisis know what is true and what is not? Generating nonsense, hallucinating and responding to questions may all be in a day’s work for some AI applications but are we all critical enough of what we read and what we see – is that video authentic? Are those voices the people we think they are? It’s a moment at the show to reflect with our experts from the Emergency Planning Society on how to communicate the truth when all is not what it seems.  

We wrap up the first day of the show by looking up and out beyond our borders. In this fascinating conversation brought to you by fire chiefs from Stockholm and London, they consider how the threat of war affects daily operations and why there is a continuum from emergency preparedness, civil defence to total defence.  

After years of campaigning, John Lord has increasingly influenced the way that firefighters think about the way they operate, how they view their health and, most importantly, how GPs view the risks they face and bring home to their families. He wants to move the conversation forward with this panel discussion on how to change behaviours and practice and what you can do to add your voice into one huge, unmissable bellow that can be heard by politicians, GPs and fire chiefs. 

If we want women to feel included and respected in the workplace, we must ensure that the equipment we give them is fit for purpose. We shouldn’t expect women to have to think about how they will remove it to go to the toilet, when they need to be laser focused on the job and its hazards. Join our panel to hear their experience but more importantly their advice on what needs to be done to change the design of kit. For anyone involved in women’s PPE, this is for you.  

With the long-awaited guidance for how to comply with Martyn’s Law published and the enforcement regime under the Security Industry Association out for consultation, this session is perfectly timed to consider what training and equipment venues should have in place should the worst happen. Our panel will talk about their preparations, the role of bleed kits, defibs and other healthcare equipment that are appropriate and proportionate to the risk. It’s a practical session and we are delighted that the Director of Security at the home of the show will share his experience with us too.