The People & Skills Stage returns to The Emergency Services Show 2026, delivering a CPD-accredited platform focused on life stages, health and wellbeing, and training and development across the emergency services. Featuring expert-led sessions and operational insight designed to support workforce resilience, professional growth and the people behind frontline response.

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FOCUSED CONTENT THEMES

Life Stages

A career in the emergency services brings different challenges and opportunities at every stage of life. This session explores the support, policies and workplace approaches helping organisations better understand and respond to the evolving needs of their workforce, from early career development through to transition and retirement planning.

Health and Wellbeing

Supporting the health and wellbeing of emergency services personnel is essential to maintaining resilient and effective teams. This session focuses on the practical initiatives, wellbeing strategies and support networks helping organisations improve mental, physical and emotional wellbeing across the workforce.

Training and Development

Continuous learning is critical to maintaining operational readiness in an evolving risk landscape. This session explores the latest approaches to training and professional development, including immersive technologies, multi-agency exercises and skills programmes designed to strengthen frontline capability and long-term workforce resilience.
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10:00
  1. Why training to respond to incidents on the Elizabeth Line needs a different approach 
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    40 mins
    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. 
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Matt Tully
    Matt Tully, Lead Incident Response Manager - Elizabeth Line
    Speaker image for Jon Charles
    Jon Charles, Station Officer - London Fire Brigade
10:45
  1. Session Delivered by our Sponsor, YPO
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    45 mins
11:35
  1. The learning from Exercise Cerberus and how testing major incidents shows JESIP in action 
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    45 mins
    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
    Speaker image for Stewart Nicholson
    Stewart Nicholson, Chief Fire Officer - Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service
    Speaker image for Donna Hay
    Donna Hay, Deputy Strategic Head of EPRR - North East Ambulance Service
    Speaker image for Andrea Fryer
    Andrea Fryer, NLRF Manager - Northumbria Local Resilience Forum
    Speaker image for Adam Whisson
    Adam Whisson, Resilience Planning Officer - Northumbria Police
12:30
  1. Think you know what a good exercise looks like? Tips to boost outcomes and drive learning 
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    30 mins
    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
    Speaker image for Stephanie Buller
    Stephanie Buller, Co-Chair for Disaster Science - ICPEM
    Speaker image for Rob Grayston
    Rob Grayston, Facilitator - Independent
13:30
  1. Talking about suicide is tough but it needs to happen 
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    40 mins
    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
    Speaker image for Ceri Sumner
    Ceri Sumner, Chief Fire Officer - Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service
    Speaker image for Lauren Merritt
    Lauren Merritt, Health and Wellbeing Manager - Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
14:15
  1. 10 things you don’t know about ambulance volunteering and the push to reach 10k volunteers nationwide  
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    45 mins
    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
    Speaker image for Joe Crook
    Joe Crook, National Ambulance Volunteer Lead - AACE
    Speaker image for Lorna Hayes
    Lorna Hayes, Head of Community Response - East of England Ambulance Service
    Speaker image for Mark Evans
    Mark Evans - North West Ambulance Service
15:15
  1. Mental health matters: are emergency services doing enough to support staff?
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    45 mins

    Former police officer Ryan MacDonald leads this multi-agency panel where we dig into the detail about how emergency services are supporting the mental health of their staff. What innovation are we seeing and what works well? Come and join the discussion and see if you can take back some great ideas to your workplace. 

    Chairperson
    Speaker image for Ryan MacDonald
    Ryan MacDonald, Former police officer, author, speaker, advisor
16:00
  1. From coping to recovery: a live emotional reset for frontline workers 
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    30 mins
    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. 
10:45
  1. Session Delivered by our Sponsor, YPO
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    45 mins
11:35
  1. Three steps to becoming an endometriosis friendly employer 
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    45 mins
    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. 
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for Lanna Deamer
    Lanna Deamer, Deputy Editor - Emergency Services Times
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Julie Burns
    Julie Burns, Endometriosis Friendly Employer Scheme Manager - Endometriosis UK
12:30
  1. ‘I got my diagnosis and sat down in my shed and wept’- one Cheshire firefighter’s quest for every man to be aware of his prostate cancer risk 
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    40 mins
    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 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
    Speaker image for Matt Cullen
    Matt Cullen, Watch Manager - Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
    Speaker image for Grace Davey
    Grace Davey, Specialist Nurse - Prostate Cancer UK
13:30
  1. Cultural early warning and how to build resilient, high performing teams 
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    40 mins
    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
    Speaker image for Alison Woodyatt
    Alison Woodyatt, Service Manager (EMS) - Welsh Ambulance Service
    Speaker image for Angie Lewis
    Angie Lewis, Director of Culture Change - Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust
    Speaker image for Sara Mills
    Sara Mills, Head of Culture and OD - Welsh Ambulance Service
    Speaker image for Mark Marsden
    Mark Marsden, Emergency Medical Practitioner | UNISON representative & Joint Chair - Service Partnership Forum | Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust
14:15
  1. Lessons in leadership: breaking the glass ceiling and beyond
    People & Skills Stage Sponsored by YPO
    40 mins
    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.  
    Chairperson
    Speaker image for Lanna Deamer
    Lanna Deamer, Deputy Editor - Emergency Services Times
    Speakers
    Speaker image for Vanessa Miles
    Vanessa Miles, Station Manager in Fire Service - London Biggin Hill Airport
    Speaker image for Steph Parker
    Steph Parker, Assistant Chief Constable - Greater Manchester Police

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