Reflections from the Emergency Services Show 2026
3 minute read.
A blog by Jon Vangorph, Head Of Partnership Insight at the Emergencies Partnership.
For the fifth year running, the Emergencies Partnership (EP) team attended the Emergency Services Show (ESS) at the NEC in Birmingham on 17 and 18 September. For those that don’t know, ESS is essentially a trade show for companies with emergency-related services and equipment to sell to emergency services, councils, Local Resilience Forums (LRF) and government departments and agencies.
The event always presents some significant cross-sector networking opportunities and gives free access to hundreds of experts with thought-provoking and valuable talks. A sample of those we heard from this year included Dr Lucy Easthope, Steph Buller, Rob Grayston and Caroline Field as well as a couple of keynotes from Roger Hargreaves, Director of COBR.
For me, the two days were time well-spent and some of our partners like Lucy Eccles (Gloucestershire Rural Community Council), Kimberley Pickett (Lincolnshire LRF), and Steph Buller (University of Cardiff, National Preparedness Commission and Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management) clearly thought so too.
Key points for me were:
How significant and valuable it was to focus Day 1 of the LRF conference portion of the show, co-directed by Luke Martin from West Midlands LRF and Lucy Macleod from London Fire Brigade and supported by our very own Abubaker Adam (Partnership Lead for Communities and Faith), on the role of the voluntary, community and faith sector (VCFS). It spotlighted the impact and insight we have.
A sense of frustration and worry regarding the speed in which systems are improving for the benefit of all. I understand those worries but remain optimistic that what we see isn't all there is and I am reminded that when we’re sat in a system, it’s often difficult to see what’s already improved and improving.
The EP have to keep up efforts to better connect VCFS organisations with each other and others across systems and to remind people that ‘voluntary’ is not free, our sector requires long-term and sustainable support, access and funding from donors, government and business to meet the demands of our communities.
As ever, lots heard and shared at ESS, but lots more to do, so I’ll keep my sleeves rolled up.