Hello!
Welcome to issue 11 of my monthly newsletter.
My name is Paul Dennett and I am the Director of 1st Attendance Training Group Ltd. At 1st Attendance we deliver fire safety training, fire equipment servicing and first aid training throughout the UK.
In this newsletter I am going to discuss my thoughts on what’s happened this month within the fire safety and first aid sectors plus what we have learnt and achieved as a business that makes us better.
Before we get in too deep, here’s a story or two that caught my eye when scanning the sector publications.
Fire incidents in the news
Glasgow City Centre fire
One of the biggest incidents recently was the fire next to Glasgow Central Station in March 2026. The blaze started in a vape shop on Union Street before spreading through a connected historic building.
At its peak, over 200 firefighters were involved in tackling the fire, with parts of the structure collapsing and rail services heavily disrupted. Early reports suggested a possible lithium battery link due to the vape shop origin.
Major warehouse fire in Southall, West London
A huge warehouse fire in Southall saw around 150 firefighters and 25 fire engines called into action after explosions were reported inside the building.
Fireworks and gas cylinders were believed to be stored within the warehouse, forcing nearby schools and residential buildings to be evacuated while crews fought the blaze.
Fire safety prosecutions & enforcement
Grenfell investigation – criminal charges expected
One of the biggest fire-safety developments recently is the ongoing Grenfell investigation, with reports suggesting prosecutors are preparing potential criminal charges against both organisations and individuals.
According to reports:
- 57 individuals
- 20 organisations
remain under investigation for offences including:
- Corporate manslaughter
- Gross negligence manslaughter
- Fraud
- Health & safety breaches
My takeaway:
Grenfell continues to shape the entire fire safety sector and is a reminder that poor decisions around fire safety can have enormous long-term consequences.
Fire safety enforcement continues to increase
While there haven’t been many headline-grabbing court cases over the last few weeks, the wider trend across the UK is clear:
- More inspections
- More enforcement notices
- Increasing expectations around competency and compliance
Industry figures show prosecutions and fines linked to fire safety breaches have continued to rise in recent years, with UK businesses collectively receiving well over £1 million in fines linked to fire safety failings.
My takeaway:
The days of treating fire safety as a tick-box exercise are disappearing quickly. Responsible persons are increasingly expected to:
- prove competency
- maintain proper records
- actively manage fire risks
New Residential Evacuation Plan Requirements – April 2026
From 6 April 2026, new requirements linked to Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (RPEEPs) came into force for certain residential buildings.
This means landlords, building owners and managing agents are now expected to give more thought to how vulnerable residents would evacuate in an emergency.
My takeaway:
This is another example of the fire sector moving toward:
- more accountability
- clearer planning
- More focus on vulnerable occupants
Fire fact
Did You Know?
Smoke alarms should ideally be replaced every 10 years even if they still beep when tested.
Over time, dust, insects and ageing sensors can make alarms less reliable, meaning they may not react quickly enough in a real fire.
A quick test once a month and checking the replacement date can make a huge difference.
This month’s stats and reviews
- Customer locations visited: 48
- Courses delivered: 54
- 5 star Google reviews (last 30 days): 40
- Trust Pilot reviews: 29
- Video testimonials: 14 (check out our Facebook!)
Some kind words from our customers:
‘Excellent fire training by Matt from start to finish. The instructor was knowledgeable, engaging and explained everything clearly. Highly recommended for anyone looking for professional and practical fire safety training.’
‘Excellent fire training course for our staff. Colin our trainer was professional, engaging, and explained everything clearly in a practical and easy-to-understand way. The session covered fire safety procedures, extinguisher use, evacuation protocols, and emergency awareness with real-life examples that kept everyone involved. Our team found the course informative, well organised, and very useful for the workplace. Highly recommend 1st Attendance for any business looking for high-quality fire safety training.’
‘Paul is an amazing trainer, in the sense he is professional but friendly and offers very valuable advice, guidance, information and support regarding fire safety and best practice. I learnt a lot from him today and will use this moving forward in both my work and home space. Thank you Paul :)’
Click on Tiger Lily’s image below to listen to her lovely review:
Need more convincing? Here’s more 5 star reviews.
My thoughts
One thing I’ve realised recently is that most people hope they’ll never have to use first aid training but when the moment comes, they’re incredibly glad they had it.
We spend a lot of time talking about fire safety in these newsletters (for obvious reasons), but first aid is just as important. In many workplaces, schools and businesses, the first few minutes before emergency services arrive can make a huge difference.
What’s interesting is that when we deliver first aid courses, people often turn up thinking:
👉 “This is probably just a box-ticking exercise.”
But by the end of the day, you can almost see the confidence change. People leave thinking:
👉 “Actually… I could help someone now.”
And that’s really what good training should do, whether it’s fire safety or first aid. It should give people the confidence to act rather than panic.
Hopefully none of us ever need to use those skills seriously. But if the moment comes, having someone nearby who knows what to do can genuinely save a life.
Just something to think about.
And finally…thank you to everyone who continues recommending us to other businesses. Our new referral scheme has already had a brilliant response. If you know a company that might need fire safety training, first aid training, extinguisher, hydrant or fire blanket servicing or PAT testing, just send us their:
- Business name
- Contact name
- Phone number
If they go on to book with us, you can choose:
🎁 £50 Amazon voucher
or
💷 £50 off your next invoice
A pretty good deal, right?
They work in association with 1st Attendance and are able to compliment our services such as creating a fire risk assessment for establishments within their sectors, alongside other training offers.
Check them out! They’d love to hear from you.
Let’s Keep Talking
Thank you for reading this and I hope you have found it interesting. If there are any subjects you would like me to discuss in a future newsletter, please do get in touch.
Want more detail on any news item or have a burning question about your facility? Email info@stafffiretraining.co.uk. Feel free to forward this to safety officers or colleagues who’d appreciate a first aid or fire‑smart update.
Stay safe and alert!
Paul
Proud kit sponsors of Emersons Green Junior Football Club - U14’s girls
