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Nominations to the first ever FREAs will open soon!
The categories and criteria for the FREAs are listed below.
Currently, entries for the FREAs are not open. Entry will open soon.
Please keep an eye on our website and our social media pages for any updates. When the event is open you will be able to enter by clicking on the category below and filling in the form with the requested information.
Outstanding Leader
Leadership in the fire sector can operate in different ways, they may work as advisors to the organisation or be a head of a team or department. Whatever the role, this category recognises those who through fire and rescue expertise, business acumen and/or skilful and innovative leadership approaches, have led with distinction. Outstanding performers will be leaders and innovators who are setting examples that others will wish to follow.
To enter this category you will be asked to:
- Describe the role of the leader and the ways in which he/she/they has led change in the organisation including the impacts of any partnership approaches adopted with different stakeholders. (500 words)
- Provide details of the value added by the leader and his/her impact on the work of the department highlighting the specific leadership qualities that generated any benefits noted. (500 words)
The judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding performance in:
- Discussing the ways in which the role has driven performance
- Highlighting the factors that enable the manager/director to excel
- Identifying the ways in which the role has influenced wider business operations
- Providing examples of building effective relationships with key stakeholders
- Demonstrating the improvements made to people and/or process and systems
Outstanding Team
This award recognises outstanding teams engaged in fire safety in the private, public or voluntary sectors – open to contracted teams, those employed direct or a combination. An outstanding team is one that has implemented an approach which has contributed to the overall performance of the organisation. This can include roles, for example, in protecting, assessing, advising the organisation, some or all of which may be innovative or exemplary, as well as showing outstanding performance in enabling the organisation to operate in ways or areas that would not be possible without the contribution of the team.
To enter this category you will be asked to:
- Describe the work of the team and the ways in which it has driven outstanding performance highlighting the key factors that have enabled success. (500 words)
- Describe the impact of the team highlighting the benefits and value it has generated for different stakeholders. (500 words)
The judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding performance in:
- Discussing how the team creates and implements an effective fire and rescue strategy and drives performance
- Highlighting how good fire and rescue practice impacts on the wider organisation
- Identifying the factors that enable staff/leadership to excel
- Providing examples of building effective relationships with key stakeholders
- Demonstrating how improvements made to people and/or process and systems
Outstanding Organisation
This award recognises those who are outstanding suppliers of any type across the fire sector, whether that be a commercial company, a public service or a voluntary organization. Motivating staff, managing resources in an increasingly demanding environment, up-skilling, recognising the distinct importance of front line leadership, making the most of technologies, forging internal and external partnerships and making them work are just some of the trends that are leading to new approaches and thinking in contracting (but these are just examples). The object of this category is to recognise the outstanding performers in making a positive difference.
To enter this category you will be asked to:
- Describe the fire and rescue services provided, highlighting key distinguishing features. (500 words)
- Describe how the organisation has displayed outstanding performance and deserves to be recognised with this award. (500 words)
The judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding performance in:
- Discussing the key distinguishing strengths the organisation displays
- Highlighting the approach taken, the specific skills and tactics that underpin performance
- Identifying examples of success in initiatives, procedures and policies
- Providing examples of building effective relationships with stakeholders
- Demonstrating how high performance and benefits are sustained
Outstanding Consultant
This award recognises the fire sector consultant – individual, team or company – demonstrating outstanding performance in any aspect of consulting in any area of fire and rescue work. Consultants often play a key role in offering expertise and insight which can transform the quality of service, product or system that is offered. It recognises the existence of distinct skill sets and crucially the ways these are harnessed and managed to make a difference to fire and rescue strategy and/or practice.
To enter this category you will be asked to:
- Describe the role and objectives of the consultant and the key factors that reflect outstanding performance. (500 words)
- Describe how the fire and rescue consultant has displayed outstanding performance in terms for example, of leadership skills, a focus on the customer, by adding value or otherwise driving excellence. (500 words)
The judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding performance in:
- Discussing the ways in which the consultant has driven security performance
- Highlighting the key distinguishing strengths of the consultant including leadership skills
- Identifying the ways in which the role has influenced positively wider organisational operations
- Providing examples of building effective relationships with key stakeholders
- Demonstrating how high performance and benefits are sustained
Outstanding Installer/Integrator
This award recognises outstanding performance by installers/integrators, be that individuals or companies. Excelling at installations requires a rounded approach and often skill sets that include specialist expertise, project management and customer care. Although installations are about adding value the precise benefits will vary by type of client and type of installation. This award recognises those who excel at fire installations.
To enter this category you will be asked to:
- Describe the service the installer/integrator provides, the main areas of outstanding performance, and how these were achieved. (500 words)
- Describe the additional value and benefits that were generated for clients and the factors and drivers that enabled the installer to excel. (500 words)
The judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding performance in:
- Discussing the key distinguishing strengths the installer/integrator displays
- Highlighting how new technology and/or innovative techniques have improved performance
- Identifying the factors that enable staff/leadership to excel
- Providing examples of client benefits
Demonstrating how high performance is sustained
Outstanding Product/Innovation
This award recognises an outstanding new product that has been designed and implemented to improve any area of fire and rescue practice, and has been introduced to the market in the last 18 months. The key point about new products is that they have a marked effect on improving performance; that is that they add value and have clearly identified benefits.
To enter this category you will be asked to:
- Describe the product and its distinguishing features, and any innovative aspects that enable it to be considered as cutting edge. (500 words)
- Evidence how the product is specifically designed to address a market demand, show how the product adds value. (500 words)
The judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding performance in:
- Discussing any creative and innovative aspects of the design process
- Highlighting the distinct features of the product
- Identifying the impact of the product on clients
- Providing examples of benefits for customers
- Demonstrating the ways in which the product adds value
Outstanding Partnership/Collaboration
This award recognises a successful fire and rescue partnership that delivers outstanding performance. Frequently partnerships are identified as crucial to good practice but often may involve little more than collaboration, a very different thing. What is known is that effective partnerships are most often the result of good planning around identifiable objectives designed to deliver specific benefits, and are typically characterised by good management/co-ordination.
To enter this category you will be asked to:
- Describe the partnership and the benefits it provides. (500 words)
- Describe how the partnership demonstrates outstanding performance and why the partnership deserves this award. (500 words)
The judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding performance in:
- Discussing the role of the partnership and the key benefits it provides
- Highlighting the business approach, specific skills and tactics that underpin performance
- Identifying the factors that enable staff/leadership to excel
- Providing examples of outstanding performance for stakeholders
- Demonstrating business benefits and how they are sustained
Outstanding Risk Assessor
This award recognises outstanding performance in risk assessment. Risk assessment is of course key to identifying and therefore managing the range of threats facing an organisation, which consequently adds value to the client. The winner of this award will have evidenced innovative strengths in the way assessments are undertaken and managed, highlighting the ways in which their approaches have driven their client’s (could be multiple) performance.
To enter this category you will be asked to:
- Describe the approach or approaches taken and the key objectives highlighting any innovative aspects that have led to its success. (500 words)
- Describe how the approach displays outstanding performance and the reasons why it has been successful and if applicable how success will be sustained. (500 words)
The judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding performance in:
- Discussing the key distinguishing strengths of the approach
- Highlighting the ways in which the approach has driven client’s performance
- Identifying the ways in which the approach is key in identifying/managing risks
- Providing examples of the added value to customers
- Demonstrating how high performance and benefits are sustained
Outstanding Insurance Broker
This category is focussed on brokers working in any aspect of fire insurance, and recognises those who through operational competence, professional expertise, business acumen and/or skilful and innovative approaches, have advanced their organisation and contributed to improving the client experience. It may include ways in which the broker has meaningfully enhanced engagement with other stakeholders be that regulators, politicians, the press and the general public. Outstanding performers will be brokers who are setting examples that others will wish to follow.
To enter this category you will be asked to:
- Describe the role of the insurance broker and the specific changes made including the impacts of any approaches adopted with different stakeholders. (500 words)
- Provide details of the value added by the broker and the specific role played in generating any benefits noted. (500 words)
The judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding performance in:
- Discussing the ways in which the broker has driven performance
- Highlighting the factors that enable the broker to excel
- Identifying the ways in which the broker has inspired competent business operations
- Providing examples of building effective relationships with key stakeholders
- Demonstrating the improvements made and why they are sustainable
Outstanding Loss Adjustor
This category is open to all those that assess claims that cover any aspect of fire policies on behalf of insurers. It recognises those who through professional expertise, business acumen and/or skilful and innovative approaches, have excelled in area of loss adjusting. It may include ways in which the loss adjustor has effectively managed complex claims, dramatically improved any part of the claims process, contributed to raising/developing standards, provided exceptional service to customers, improved relationships/partnerships with key stakeholders, and otherwise contributed to outstanding performance setting examples that other loss adjustors will wish to follow.
To enter this category you will be asked to:
- Describe the role of the loss adjustor and the specific changes made including the impacts of any approaches adopted with different stakeholders. (500 words)
- Provide details of the value added by the loss adjustor and the specific role played in generating any benefits noted. (500 words)
The judges will be looking for evidence of outstanding performance in:
- Discussing the ways in which the role has driven performance
- Highlighting the factors that enable the loss adjustor to excel
- Identifying the ways in which the role has influenced wider business/sector operations
- Providing examples of building effective relationships with key stakeholders
- Demonstrating the improvements made to people and/or process and systems