For PPE, workwear and specialist firefighting PPE

With the complexity of firefighter PPE there is much to be gained from collaboration and standardisation across the sector.

Wearer safety is always at the forefront and user requirements are based upon robust and relevant risk assessment processes, to comply with PPE legislation and regulations such as the Health and Safety at Work Act, PPE at Work and COSHH. 

Operational benefits include greater cooperation and resilience between neighbouring Fire and Rescue Services, as well as other blue light services, such as the sharing of resources and materials.

Economic benefits come with centralised buying power, driving best value and resource efficiencies. Savings made can be reinvested elsewhere, such as improving care and maintenance programmes.

PPE and clothing in numbers:

33,000

wearers of structural PPE

 

£145,000

saved for the UKFRS

 

13,500

wearers of national workwear

 

The future firefighter concept

The NFCC PPE and Clothing Committee have obtained funding from the Home Office Commissioning Hub for the Future Firefighter Concept project. This research-based project will look at uniform and personal protective equipment (excluding respiratory protection) to ensure it is fit for purpose leading into 2030 and beyond. More information is available from the NFCC.

 

Contract details

Framework information is currently being compiled and will be added here soon. In the meantime for all PPE and Clothing procurement enquiries email: sarah.walsh@kent.fire-uk.org

 

Resources

• PPE and Clothing People Impact Assessment
• Diversity in PPE

 

Meet the PPE and clothing team

Ann Millington Chair of the NFCC Procurement Hub, Chief Sponsor, Clothing / PPE Category

Ann Millington became Chief Executive of Kent Fire and Rescue Service in February 2011. Prior to that she had been KFRS Deputy Chief Executive and Human Resources Director, having joined the Service in February 2007. Ann is the NFCC Strategic Procurement Lead, Sponsor of the NFCC Procurement Hub and Category Sponsor for the ‘Clothing’ category. She is also Chair of the People Committee for the National Fire Chiefs Council. As KFRS’s Chief Executive, Ann has responsibility for all the functions of Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

She works closely with elected Members of the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority to make sure efficient and cost-effective services are delivered, in line with the Service’s aims and objectives. She manages around 1,500 staff delivering a fire and rescue service for one of the UK’s largest and most geographically diverse counties of 1.7 million people. Ann is an Occupational Psychologist, with a background in change management, organisational development, training, HR and consultancy

Sarah Walsh Clothing and PPE Category Manager

Sarah joined Kent Fire and Rescue Service in December 2017, following 10 years working within the private sector, as a Port Supply Co-ordinator for Wilhelmsen Ships Service a leading global suppliers of Marine Chemicals, Marine Products and Gases to vessels, processing up to 3,000 orders every year for delivery within the UK and Ireland placed by colleagues around the world. This involved working with key strategic subcontractors to ensure deliveries were made on time and in full as well as quoting Requests for Quotations as well as auditing Subcontractors annually, investigating inventory discrepancies and completing customer credits.

Since joining Kent Fire and Rescue Service as a Category Officer for Operations, Sarah has been part of the Strategic Management Team for Collaborative PPE and was appointed as Category Manager for PPE and Clothing in July 2020 and is the Framework Manager for the National Workwear Framework.