People and Skills Stage

It took decades to get Crossrail finished; renamed the Elizabeth Line, it’s now used by thousands of travellers every day from one side of London to the other, buried deep under the capital, its risks change along with the terrain. Learn from our experts how they have developed the training and exercising programme that reflects the modern rolling stock, the tracks and all the mysteries of a modern railway. It all takes place in Ilford, find out how in this great session. 

When you think about a multi-agency exercise you probably think it lasts a day, maybe two. But in the North East last year, Exercise Cerberus lasted over six months, involved organisations from across the region and tested how to respond to a marauding terrorist attack in a major sports venue. The MTA scenario is being tested across the country in different ways but for this session, our panel will share how they approached it and ended up winning an award too.

Speakers:

Stewart Nicholson, CFO, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service

Donna Hay, Deputy Strategic Head, EPRR, North East Ambulance Service

Andrea Fryer, NLRF Manager, Northumbria Local Resilience Forum

Adam Whisson, Resilience Planning Officer, Northumbira Police

The first masterclass of the day is your chance to focus in on what makes a good exercise and reflect on what your organisation does and get some ideas about doing things differently. Drop in and get some great tips to take back to your service. 

Speakers:

Rob Grayston

Steph Buller, Co-Chair, Disaster Science at ICPEM

Looking after those who respond to traumatic incidents is critical for a well-functioning emergency service. National bodies have recently introduced new guidance and process, including mandatory reporting of police officer suicides and a new suicide prevention and postvention toolkit for fire and rescue services. It’s a sensitive topic but important, so join our expert panel who will share the work taking place at a national level and how your service can benefit.

Speakers:

Ceri Sumner, CFO, Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service

Lauren Merritt - Health and Wellbeing Manager - Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Did you know there are more than 10 different ways you can volunteer with your local ambulance service? Volunteers have a key role to play in community resilience, supporting ambulance services during critical incidents and civil emergencies. In this session we’ll hear from the national ambulance member organisation, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, and ambulance volunteer service leads about some of the exciting new developments in ambulance volunteering. We will also hear from the volunteers themselves. Learn from them and be inspired to join your local ambulance service as a volunteer. 

Speakers:

Joe Crook, National Ambulance Volunteer Lead, AACE

Lorna Hayes, Head of Community Response, East of England Ambulance Service

Mark Evans, Interim Community Engagement Lead, North West Ambulance Service 

Frontline workers are trained to cope, push through and keep going, which they do, day in and day out. The emotional weight doesn’t always not reduce when they clock out and over time it leads to poor sleep, replayed images, chronic stress, mental health issues, burnout and compassion fatigue.  

In this 30-minute master class, learn a practical method that helps you let go of that weight in real time – and leave work at work

Speakers:

Amy Guerrier, Co-Founder, Frontliners Circle

Ali Mitchell, Co-Founder, Frontliners Circle

This practical panel discussion will explore how emergency services organisations can better support colleagues living with endometriosis. Contributors from across the blue light sector will share lived experience, workplace approaches and practical steps that can improve awareness, flexibility and support in operational environments. The session will focus on simple, actionable changes employers can take to create a more informed and supportive workplace culture. 

In an industry where risk is part of the day to day, this session we look at health risk and how men need to understand their risks when it comes to prostate cancer. In a myth busting session led by Cheshire firefighter Matt Cullen and Holly from Prostate Cancer UK, you will find out about his experience and why he dropped a rank to focus on himself and his family after his diagnosis. Take time out of your busy show day to reflect and learn about taking a prevention first approach. 

Speakers:

Matt Cullen, Watch Manager, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

In Wales, the ambulance service is working on new ways to build more resilient teams and involve them in shaping their culture. The Cultural Early Warning Score – CEWS - is part of the trust’s Working Well Together approach and is helping to make culture tangible. It supports managers and teams to talk openly about how work feels, identify what needs attention, and agree actions together. Join our panel to find out how this work is progressing and how you can adapt and adopt it in your organisation. 

Speakers:

Sara Mills, Head of Culture and Organisational Development , Welsh Ambulance Service

Angie Lewis, Director of Culture Change, Welsh Ambulance Service

Alison Woodyatt, Service Manager (Emergency Medical Services), Welsh Ambulance Service 

In a show first, we have women-only panels on each of our stages, looking at different issues that affect women in the emergency services. In this session we look at leadership: what can women in leadership positions today tell us about their journey, the barriers they have overcome and the richness of their experience that will be an inspiration to women who are earlier in their careers. Chaired by EST Deputy Editor, Lanna Deamer, this is certain to be a fascinating session.

Speakers:

Vanessa Miles, Station Manager, London Biggin Hill Airport Fire Service