This employers’ circular provides a brief update of some of the key issues discussed, including the appointment of a new Chair of the National Employers and confirmation of appointments to their national Advisory Forum for the coming year.
Fire and Rescue Services National Employers
Local Government Association,
18 Smith Square, Westminster,
London, SW1P 3HZ
Telephone 020 7187 7335
e-mail: [email protected]
Employers’ Secretary, Sarah Ward
Direct Dial: 020 7187 7335
Website: www.local.gov.uk
To: Chief fire officers
Chief executives/Clerks to fire authorities
Chairs of fire authorities
Directors of human resources
CC: Members of the Employers’ Side of the NJC
17 October 2025
Circular EMP/5/25
Dear colleagues,
National Employers update:
1. The National Employers met last week ahead of the NJC’s AGM. This employers’ circular provides a brief update of some of the key issues discussed, including the appointment of a new Chair of the National Employers and confirmation of appointments to their national Advisory Forum for the coming year. We also bring you news on the recently published Firefighter Workforce Survey.
New Chair of the National Employers
1. Cllr Roger Phillips has been appointed as Chair of the National Employers. Cllr Phillips and the rest of the National Employers thanked Dr Kirsty Darwent, Vice Chair, for acting as Chair since Cllr Nick Chard stepped down from the role earlier this year.
2. A full list of the National Employers is attached to this circular.
Advisory Forum membership
3. Please find attached for information a list of the fourteen advisers appointed to the National Employers’ Advisory Forum for the forthcoming year effective 1 November 2025. While decisions ultimately sit with the national employers, the Advisory Forum provides advice to national employer members of both the NJC and the MMNB on all substantive matters before them and provide an important link between the employers and the operational leadership of the sector.
4. The National Employers seek to balance geography and governance when deciding who to appoint and are grateful to all colleagues who expressed an interest in joining the forum this year.
NJC/National Employer updates
5. Items on the October NJC agenda included:
• Pay structure reform – both sides re-emphasised their commitment to progressing pay structure reform. The National Employers have launched an early information and consultation exercise with Chief Fire Officers, Chairs of Fire Authorities/ PFCCs/Deputy Mayors (see circular EMP4/25 for more information).
• Funding of the Fire & Rescue Service – both sides shared concerns and agreed to work together to make the joint case for fair funding of fire and rescue services.
Firefighter Workforce Survey results
6. Thank you to all the services who responded to the recent workforce survey. The results have now been collated and analysed to form a comprehensive workforce survey report, which is available via the Fire and Rescue Service workforce pages on the LGA website alongside other information about the NJC, our circulars etc. We invite all colleagues to read this report which provides a useful snapshot of the Grey Book workforce, including demographics and pay.
If you have any questions about this circular please contact [email protected]
Yours faithfully,
Sarah Feeley
Assistant Employers’ side secretary
Appendix A – The National Employers
| Name | Fire & Rescue authority / service | National Employers role | LGA Political Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cllr Roger Phillips | Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority | Member (Chair) | Conservative |
| PFCC Roger Hirst | Essex County Fire & Rescue Service | Member | Conservative |
| Cllr Nikki Hennessey | N/A | Member | Independents |
| Cllr Vince Maple | Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority | Member (Lead Member) | Labour |
| Cllr Leslie Byrom | Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority | Member | Labour |
| Cllr Jewel Miah | Leicestershire Combined Fire Authority | Member | Labour |
| Cllr Jane Hugo | Lancashire Combined Fire Authority | Member | Labour |
| Cllr Jane Gebbie | N/A | Member (Lead Member) | Labour |
| Cllr Carolyn Lambert | East Sussex Fire Authority | Member (Lead Member) | Lib Dem |
| Cllr Roger Price | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Authority | Member | Lib Dem |
| Cllr Mick Barton | N/A | Member | Reform |
| Dr Kirsty Darwent | Scottish Fire & Rescue Service | Member (Vice Chair) | N/A |
| Mr Paul Stollard | Scottish Fire & Rescue Service | Member | N/A |
| Mr J Colville | Northern Ireland Fire Service | Member (Lead Member) | N/A |
| Cllr Moris Bright | N/A | Substitute | Conservative |
| Cllr Peter Wheeler | Cheshire Fire Authority | Substitute | Labour |
| Cllr Sarah Feeney | N/A | Substitute | Labour |
| Cllr Stuart Bray | Leicestershire Combined Fire Authority | Substitute | Lib Dem |
Chair and Vice Chair are also Lead Members
Appendix B - Membership of the Advisory Forum
Local Government Association nominations
Chief Fire Officer Advisers:
• Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
• Dave Russel, Chief Fire Officer, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
• Gavin Ellis, Chief Fire Officer, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
• Rick Hylton, Chief Fire Officer, Essex Fire and Rescue Service
• Jonathan Dyson, Chief Fire Officer, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
Finance Adviser:
• Mark Hemming, Director of Finance & Assets, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service
Legal Adviser:
• Nigel Snape, Head of Legal Services, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service
Human Resources Advisers:
• Nick Mernock, Director of People and Organisational Development, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
• Sally Hopper, Director for People, London Fire Brigade
• Katherine Metcalfe, Director of People and Organisational Development, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
Board of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service - 2 nominees
• Fiona Ross, Director of People, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Stuart Stevens, Chief Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Board of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service – 1 nominee
• Aidan Jennings, Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.
Welsh Local Government Association – 1 nominee
• Dawn Docx, Chief Fire Officer, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC)
• Phil Garrigan, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council – Ex-officio member of the Advisory Forum