BALLYCLARE VAN PRESENTATION WITH DAVID ROSS
Ballyclare, the personal protective equipment provider for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, recently reviewed our managed service contract, in particular the delivery element. Previously, Ballyclare delivered all kits to each station, however, under the new arrangements, all kit will now be delivered to our Stores, who will then distribute accordingly.
The cost saving on the contract allowed Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service to purchase a van, which will now be used to deliver the kits internally. The van has been branded in partnership with Ballyclare and depicts our own firefighters wearing Ballyclare kit. This change in the contract was a mutual agreement, allowing Ballyclare to provide a more efficient service to us.
On Wednesday 30 August, we were joined at Service Headquarters by David Ross, owner of Ballyclare. David is an influential figure in business, sport and politics, renowned for being one of the founders of Carphone Warehouse and founder of the Nevill Holt Opera Festival in Leicestershire.
He was joined by our Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, Steve Lunn, and Assistant Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, Rick Taylor, as well as LFRS firefighters who feature as models on the van. From Ballyclare we were joined by Carlton Greener, Managing Director of Ballyclare, and Richard Ballheimer, Technical Director of Ballyclare. Carlton enjoyed a trip up in our Aerial Ladder Platform, where he was able to view the whole of Leicestershire from 100ft.
“I’m delighted Ballyclare is able to help out LFRS with this new vehicle,” explains David Ross. “I have a number of personal links with the Leicestershire area, and of course Ballyclare is a world-class supplier of specialist firefighter protective clothing, so I’m happy we’re able to contribute something that’s of real practical value to LFRS and to the community as a whole. Having real firefighters pictured on the vehicle will help bring home to the public that although our firefighters might see themselves as ordinary people, in reality they do a very special job in helping to protect the rest of us.”
Steve Lunn, Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, said: “Thank you to Ballyclare for renegotiating the protective firekit contract, which allowed us to purchase the van which the Service will use to ensure a more efficient delivery method.”
“Our relationship with Ballyclare is vital in ensuring our firefighters are issued with protective firekit to allow them to safely and comfortably carry out their job”.
Notes to editors: Photos are available, please contact Corporate Communications on the details below to request.
About the Service
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its headquarters is based in Birstall, Leicester.
The Service’s prevention, education, enforcement and inspection programmes have resulted in significant reductions in the number of incidents. In the last ten years, fire related incidents have reduced by 46 percent.
During 2015/16, the Service attended 666 road traffic collisions, of which 174 were extrications freeing 208 people trapped inside their vehicles and completed 5086 home fire safety checks, fitting almost 4481 smoke alarms. Staff organised or supported almost 1431 events aimed at promoting fire and road safety and arson prevention, whilst also visiting 332 schools to deliver fire and road safety education to pupils.
Contact:
Corporate Communications
0116 229 2178
corporate.communications@lfrs.org
