Staffs mist 180Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has been rewarded for innovative working by claiming two Improvement and Efficiency Social Enterprise Awards.

The Service won the gold award for ‘Innovation’ and the bronze award for ‘Fire and Rescue Service Project of Year’ beating off public sector organisations, councils and social enterprises across the country apply.

Director of Response Rob Barber, who played a key role in developing the award-winning ST15 misting branch which forms the nozzle of a firefighting hose, praised the work of his team in applying the technology of international company FireBug.

“We are absolutely delighted to have won the gold award for innovation at such a prestigious national ceremony. The other organisations that had been shortlisted had put some very impressive projects forward so to come first is a real coup for the Service. We also came third in the Fire and Rescue Service of the Year Award which is also an amazing achievement that we are extremely proud of," he said. 

“In Staffordshire we are always looking at innovative ways to improve safety while providing a service that offers the best possible value for money for our communities. The ST15 is just one of the ways that we are achieving these aims. We will continue to work with our crews and partners in both the public and private sectors to develop tools that put firefighter safety and the safety of residents at the top of our agenda.”

The ST15, which is manufactured in Newcastle-under-Lyme, encapsulates science to use minimum water while achieving maximum results. It is the most water efficient nozzle on the market today and is approximately 65 per cent more efficient than other comparative nozzles.

Executive Director/Deputy Chief Executive Rebecca Bryant and Chair of the Service Improvement Committee Councillor Terry Finn represented the Service at the high profile awards ceremony at Church House, Westminster last week [Mar 4].