Our Achievements

NFCC Achievements 2020-21

2020-21 has been a momentous year, not only for NFCC, but for everyone. The Covid-19 pandemic has proved that, while NFCC is on a course and direction to deliver its own priorities and objectives, it also needs to remain agile and able to respond to the changing demands placed upon it.

Our response to the Covid-19 pandemic included:

  • Establishing a tripartite agreement with employers to enable firefighters to carry out additional duties related to the pandemic
  • Co-ordinating the collection and distribution of data relating to covid activities
  • Providing fire and rescue services with Covid-related Strategic Intentions, guidance and risk assessments
  • Leading and managing the ‘Ready, Willing and Able’ Campaign to highlight the role of FRSs in the national response to the pandemic
  • Managing the procurement of essential resources at a national level to support local delivery.

As well as leading the national fire and rescue service response in what has been a challenging 12 months for all, NFCC has continued to deliver on its strategic objectives that support fire and rescue services in continuously improving how they deliver services to their communities.

Some of these key achievements include:

  • Working closely with the Home Office in response to the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase One report, including those relating to National Operational Guidance.
  • Establishing the Protection Policy and Reform Unit as a centre of excellence for support and guidance on a wide range of Protection and building safety issues.
  • Providing technical advice and guidance to Government on the implementation of the Fire Safety Act and supporting guidance, the introduction of the new Building Safety Regulator and the draft clauses of the Building Safety Bill.
  • Co-ordinating a number of national safety campaigns including the Fire Kills and Be Water Aware campaigns, National Sprinkler Week, Business Safety Week and Home Safety Week.
  • Developing our Strategic Improvement Model (SIM) to provide an evidence-based approach to aligning and prioritising NFCC work.
  • Reviewing National Operational Learning at its two-year anniversary, having seen over 300 submissions to maximise learning and drive improvements across fire and rescue services.
  • The establishment of fire-specific Apprenticeships and the End Point Assessment Partnership function.
  • The development and launch of a Core Code of Ethics in partnership with the Local Government Association and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, in response to the HMICFRS recommendation and supporting the associated Code of Ethics Fire Standard for services in England.
  • Publishing the Leadership and Management Core Learning Pathway to complement the NFCC Leadership Framework.
  • Developing a national definition of risk to bring consistency and commonality in how services refer to and reference risk as part of their community risk management planning processes.
  • Building on the proof of concept to define the business requirements for a comprehensive National Data Hub function.
  • Successfully trialling the National Operational Guidance Service Integration Tool.
  • Establishing a new Prevention Programme, including the launch of the Staywise interactive website for teachers and pupils, and the Person-Centred Approach project.
  • Delivering professionalism in procurement as well as driving savings and efficiency for services through our Fire Commercial Transformation Programme.
  • Supporting the independent Fire Standards Board in the publication of the first four Fire Standards for services in England: Emergency Response Driving and Operational Response including: Operational Preparedness, Operational Competency and Operational Learning.

We’re proud of the range of work that has been completed through our improvement programmes and other initiatives during 2021-21, and are looking forward to building on this as we progress through our NFCC Plan for 2021-24.