2025 has been a transformative year for the Fire Industry Association, marked by a strengthened international footprint and a renewed commitment to sharing UK expertise across the global fire safety community. Through major events, strategic partnerships and expanded member engagement, the FIA continued to reinforce its position as a leading voice in fire safety worldwide. From Gibraltar to Helsinki and Singapore, the Association’s work this year highlighted not just the depth of UK expertise, but the power of collaboration and shared purpose across borders.

Strengthening Regional Ties: FIA Fire Safety Summit Gibraltar

The year began with a milestone event: the first-ever FIA Fire Safety Summit Gibraltar, held on 15 May aboard the Sunborn Gibraltar Hotel. Bringing together fire safety professionals, regulators, and industry leaders from across the region, the Summit offered a full day of meaningful discussion, technical insight and collective ambition. FIA CEO Ian Moore OBE opened the event by emphasising the Association’s mission to raise competency standards while strengthening both regional and international ties. The programme featured respected speakers including Colin Ramirez, Chief Fire Officer of Gibraltar Fire and Rescue, Sir Ken Knight, former Government Chief Fire Adviser for England, and a number of senior experts who examined topics ranging from operational challenges to lessons learned from major incidents such as Grenfell, alongside updates on evolving European fire standards and new technological developments.

The exhibition element of the Summit created an additional layer of engagement, with Aico, AJ Sheriff Electrical, Britannia Fire, C-TEC, The Fire Door Inspectors and Hyfire, showcasing products and services that are helping to shape the future of fire protection. The strong turnout and high level of interaction throughout the day ensured that the Summit not only strengthened relationships within Gibraltar but also laid the foundation for future FIA activity in the region.

Expanding Influence in Northern Europe: FinnSec

As autumn approached, the FIA travelled to Finland for FinnSec 2025, held from 8 to 9 October at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. Widely recognised as Scandinavia’s leading trade fair for security and fire protection solutions, FinnSec offered an ideal platform for the FIA to engage with an exceptionally broad network of industry professionals across Northern Europe. The FIA was joined by a strong group of member companies, including C-TEC, Vimpex Ltd, Eurotech Fire Systems Ltd, Kidde Global Solutions, Patol Ltd – Linear Heat Detection, Protec Fire and Security Group, Coopers Fire and Detectortesters, each showcasing the high-quality fire safety products and technologies that position the UK as a global leader in the sector.

This was a first for the FIA and its members, as the FIA committed to underwriting the cost of the stand space to allow multiple members to utilise it as a platform to promote their products as a communal FIA members stand.

Across two productive days, these companies helped demonstrate the depth and diversity of the UK fire industry, attracting interest from manufacturers, innovators and decision-makers seeking cutting-edge fire protection solutions. The event’s wide-ranging exhibition - spanning fire protection, occupational safety, electronic security, data protection and risk management reflected the rapid evolution of the safety and security landscape in the region. For the FIA, FinnSec once again proved to be a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships, share knowledge and highlight the expertise that UK companies bring to international markets.

Showcasing UK Innovation in Asia: Fire Safety Event Asia

The FIA’s international programme concluded on a high note at the Fire Safety Event Asia 2025, held from 11 to 13 November at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, Singapore. For its inaugural edition, the FIA proudly partnered with the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) to co-host a UK Pavilion. This joint effort brought together four leading UK manufacturers: Vimpex, Patol, Coopers and Eurotech - who showcased the strength and innovation of the UK fire sector to delegates and buyers from across the Asia-Pacific region. FIA Head of Commercial Chris Tilley described the enthusiasm and quality of engagement at the event as “remarkable,” highlighting strong conversations with visitors from APAC and beyond, and praising Nineteen Group for delivering an exceptional inaugural show.

This collaboration with the BSIA also reflects a broader strategic partnership that continues to benefit FIA members. In addition to the joint Pavilion in Singapore, the BSIA has successfully managed UK Pavilions at major events such as Intersec Dubai and Intersec Saudi Arabia.  A significant opportunity for UK manufacturers and service providers looking to increase their visibility and reach in key global markets.

Supporting UK Export Growth

Alongside these international exhibitions, the FIA continued to strengthen its support for UK companies through the work of the FIA Export Council, which plays a central role in helping members access overseas markets, develop strategic export capabilities and collaborate on shared trade objectives. The Council’s work ties closely with the growing interest among members in international expansion, and we encourage any organisation looking to broaden its global reach to join the Export Council and take an active role in shaping the FIA’s international strategy.

Across all this year’s international engagements, a consistent theme has emerged: the FIA’s commitment to raising standards, supporting competence and building meaningful partnerships across the world. Whether fostering dialogue in Gibraltar, engaging with innovators in Helsinki, or opening new opportunities in Singapore, the Association has worked tirelessly to ensure UK leadership remains visible and influential in a rapidly changing global industry.

As we look ahead to 2026, the FIA is poised to build on this momentum, expanding our international collaborations, supporting member exports, and strengthening the global conversation around fire safety excellence. This year has marked a clear step forward in our global journey, and we look forward to continuing that progress together with our members, partners and international colleagues.