West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (WSFRS) has been awarded nearly £196,000 from the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund (RPF) to help keep businesses safer.
The money will allow the service to work with its partners on developing a ‘fire safety awareness tool’ to help businesses carry out interactive fire risk assessments.
It is being developed as a collaborative partnership between WSFRS, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), University of Northampton and Eyecademy Ltd.
This awareness tool includes vital tips and advice to help keep premises and people safer. Once launched, the new tool will be accessible to all fire services around the country free of charge to use with their local businesses.
The collaboration secured a grant of £195,840 from the RPF, which is administered by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The grant is part of a £3 million fund for innovative projects and products.
West Sussex Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mark Andrews said: ‘I am delighted that the Regulator’s Pioneer Fund have recognised in awarding this grant just what a real difference this new virtual training tool will make to both businesses and residents across the country.
‘This is a fantastic joint project that will draw on expertise across the sector to create something that is not just free and easy to use but informative and helps businesses to understand their legal obligations and how to comply with them, while reducing the risk of suffering a significant impact from fire.
‘Using new technology, we intend to encourage a cultural shift in the way that businesses seek, and are provided with, fire safety advice.’
The Regulators’ Pioneer Fund enables UK regulators and local authorities to help create a UK regulatory environment that unleashes innovation and makes the UK the best place to start and grow a business.
Business Minister Lord Callanan said: ‘Good regulation should spur entrepreneurship, not stand in its way, and this project will help keep the UK at the cutting-edge of innovation.
‘This new project could pave the way for exciting developments in the sector, bringing benefits to British businesses and consumers alike.’
