10 September 2021

After 12 successful years as BAFE’s CEO, and latterly as CEO and Director of FireQual, BAFE would announce that Stephen Adams will be stepping down from the business with effect from 7th September 2021.

Stephen joined BAFE in 2009, oversaw the move into our current offices within the Fire Service College at Morton-in-Marsh, where he has been central to the development of the business and the respect it has within the UK fire market today. Stephen has also been involved with the excellent BAFE team and industry stakeholders in the development of many new BAFE schemes and initiatives but notably the expansion of the SP203 scheme into Emergency lighting, the SP205 Fire Risk Assessment scheme and the new BAFE SP206 Kitchen Fire Protection Systems scheme whilst ensuring that the original BAFE schemes such as SP101 for competency of Portable Fire Extinguisher Organisations and technicians has developed and continues to support growth & competence in this market.

Over the past year, he has been active in the establishment of BAFE FireQual, which is the specialist Awarding Body for the fire protection industry working for the betterment of knowledge and skills and is now successfully launched and offering qualifications and examinations to those engaged across the fire sector.

Stephen has always highlighted & promoted how 3rd party certification would make a difference to delivering a safer built environment in the UK for our people and businesses and has been heavily involved in promoting this both before and following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The Board of BAFE would wish Stephen and his family every success in their future and to thank him for his influential years of service.

A separate announcement will discuss the future management structure for BAFE.

Ian Moore, CEO of the FIA, said “it has been a pleasure working with Stephen over the last 6 years and I wish him well in his future endeavours. BAFE were keen to emphasise that this will not affect the Qualification service we now use through FireQual and the whole process will remain as seamless as ever.”