Episode 50 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features several exclusive interviews as Brian hears from Mike Hobbs (specification and strategic growth lead at Apollo Fire Detectors) and Steve Dilloway (principal at Veritas Fire Support Services) in addition to Paul Pope (global director for the fire and life safety systems business at Ajax Systems) and Barnaby Carrick (senior technical engineer at passive fire protection solutions developer Siderise).

Mike Hobbs joined Apollo in April last year from Honeywell, where he served as business manager and fire detection product specialist. He now leads a team of industry professionals operating across the UK and Ireland and focused on Apollo’s fire detection and life safety solutions.

Steve Dilloway is a certified risk assessor and a member of the Fire Industry Association’s Fire Risk Assessment Council. He also provides consultancy support for those elements of fire and life safety that reside under the risk assessment umbrella.

In tandem, Mike and Steve focus their attentions on the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 and what its introduction means for the fire industry going forward.

Paul Pope is a Board director at the Fire Industry Association, an associate member of the Institution of Fire Engineers and also a member of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers. Having appeared as a guest on the very first episode of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast back in April 2020, Paul returns to examine the current challenges facing fire sector professionals and outlines recent developments at Ajax Systems.

An Honours graduate in computer-aided product design having studied at the University of Portsmouth’s School of Engineering, Barnaby Carrick has been part of the team at Siderise since 2012. In conversation with Brian, Barnaby reviews the key challenges presented by Gateway 3 – the final checkpoint relating to the Building Safety Act – and the introduction of the new Siderise Inspection App. 

As always, Brian and Mark highlight and discuss key news stories in the sector. On this occasion, there’s a focus on the recent change of ownership at the Fire Protection Association, the upcoming Women in Fire Safety Awards (for which the 2026 finalists have just been announced), the Fire Industry Association’s tribute to Chris Watts and the Building Safety Regulator appointing an independent chair for the dedicated Residents’ Panel.

Episode 49 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes interviews with Andy Spence (managing director of Britannia Fire, the Norfolk-based manufacturer of fire extinguishers) and James Mountain (sales director at Millars Pumps, the exclusive UK and Ireland supplier of Idroelettrica’s fire pumps and modular pump room solutions).

Andy examines fire extinguisher maintenance regimes, conformance with British Standards and the future roadmap for fire extinguishers as part of fire suppression regimes. James focuses on the procurement of fire pumps and the importance of support when it comes to system maintenance before outlining what Millars Pumps can deliver as a new entrant to the UK market. 

As always, Brian and Mark review several major news stories emerging in the sector. This time around, attentions turn towards Ian Moore OBE’s decision to stand down as CEO of the Fire Industry Association, the Building Safety Regulator’s new approach towards building assessment certificates for higher-risk buildings, the latest research conducted by the British Woodworking Federation on the subject of third party certification for fire doors and a review of the latest edition of Fire Safety Matters Live and the Fire & Security Matters Awards 2026, both of which ran at the Coventry Building Society Arena on 2 July.

Episode 48 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features exclusive interviews with Elan Penn (training manager at Siderise, the passive fire protection solutions specialist) and Martin Green (commercial training and support manager) and Mick Hall (regional sales manager) at Hochiki Europe (the manufacturer of fire detection and emergency lighting products).

Elan concentrates on several core subjects, among them Best Practice in fire stopping and also how the industry’s response to training is evolving in the wake of recent fire safety legislation.

Returning guest Martin and his colleague Mick examine updates to British Standards, the compliance agenda and also the integration of fire systems with other technologies (including security solutions).  

As always, Brian and Mark review major news impacting the sector. On this occasion, developments covered include the latest updates from the Metropolitan Police Service in relation to the Grenfell Tower investigation process, the Government’s proposed Remediation Bill having been confirmed in The King’s Speech, several senior-level appointments at BAFE and FireQual and the National Fire Chiefs Council’s call for fire safety to be built into the planning process from the outset.

Episode 47 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes detailed interviews with Richard Heaton (CEO) and Mike Lythgoe (sales director) from the Protec Fire and Security Group and also Stephen Marsh, head of sales at Cygnus (the developer of wireless fire detection and alarm systems).

Richard and Mike focus on several key areas, among them the immediate roadmap for the fire safety sector and the ongoing impact of the Internet of Things.

Returning guest Stephen Marsh addresses the unique set of challenges presented by heritage premises when it comes to the installation and management of fire safety systems.  

Brian and Mark review the latest fire sector news. Stories covered on this occasion include the Building Safety Regulator reporting record year-end Gateway 2 determinations, the Authoritative Statement recently issued by the Fire Engineers Advisory Panel, the creation of the PV Fire Intelligence Network and the Fire Protection Association’s partnership with FireQual on fire risk assessment qualifications.

Episode 46 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features exclusive interviews with Derrick Hall (director of sales and marketing) and Kevin Mears (head of product management) at Kentec Electronics, while Brian also hears from Spike Armstrong (business development manager for Thermocable).

Derrick and Kevin concentrate on the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (ie Martyn’s Law) in relation to the fire safety sector and the impact it will exert on product development. There’s also a focus on the statutory guidance being produced by the Government.

A member of the Halma plc Catalyst Programme, Spike Armstrong discusses linear heat detection cable and its use in tandem with solar panel arrays, in turn outlining the key findings of Thermocable’s own research in this area.  

As always, Brian and Mark analyse the latest fire sector news.Subjects covered include the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2026, the Women in Fire Safety Awards (which have just been acquired by Western Business Media) and the recent launch of the Fire Protection Association’s 2025 Policy Manifesto.

There’s also detail (courtesy of the London Fire Brigade) on the number of e-bike fires in the capital and news about the introduction of a mental health-focused pack for passive fire protection practitioners developed and issued by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection.

Episode 45 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features two exclusive interviews. Brian hears from Darren Ellis, qualifications manager at FireQual, and Stephen Marsh (head of sales at wireless fire detection and alarm systems manufacturer Cygnus).

Darren focuses his attentions on FireQual as an organisation, the importance of competence in the sector and qualifications for fire risk assessors, while Stephen explains why school holidays are an ideal time for education sector trusts and academies alike to evaluate their fire detection and alarm systems.

In addition, Brian and Mark review the latest fire sector news.Subjects covered include the most recent set of statistics on building safety remediation issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and an e-Learning programme on fire safety introduced for high-rise building managers.

There’s also detail on the news that Warringtonfire has just invested circa £4 million on two furnaces designed to increase the testing capacity at its Birchwood Park facility and an overview of BS 8674 (the recently published British Standard for fire risk assessors).

Episode 44 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes Mark interviewing Mike Sutton, business development manager at Apollo Fire Detectors. Mike’s a proud member of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) and the Institution of Fire Engineers in addition to being an associate member of the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers.

On this occasion, Mike focuses his attentions on ways in which to protect educational premises from fire.

In addition, Brian and Mark analyse the latest industry news. Topics covered include the eighth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, the Industry and Regulators Committee seeking practitioners’ views on the Building Safety Regulator and the appointment of Dave White FIFSM (Life) MIFireE (chair of the IFSM) and Colin Todd MBE (managing director at C. S. Todd & Associates) to the Board at FireQual.

Brian and Mark also review the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2025 and Fire Safety Matters Live Coventry, reference Western Business Media’s new Ignite digital platform for CPD and look ahead to Fire Safety Matters Live Manchester on 1 October.

Episode 43 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast sees Mark Sennett chatting with Warren Spencer about appealing Enforcement and Prohibition Notices.

Mark also sits down with Hochiki Europe's Martin Green and EA-RS Fire Enginering's Kevin Pullen to discuss key regulatory changes impacting fire safety system installations, the benefits of manufacturer-led training programs and much more.

In the news on this episode, Mark shares views put forwards by Industry bodies on the Government’s post-Grenfell plans, reaction to the news that Grenfell Tower is set to be demolished, FIRAS taking the decision to withdraw specific FIRAS active certification schemes, and more.

If you want to sign up to attend Warren Spencer's webinar on Enforcement and Prohibition Notices, visit https://wbm.streamgo.live/enforcement-notice-and-prohibition-notices

Episode 42 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features Mark chatting with our regular guest Warren Spencer (managing director of Blackhurst Budd Solicitors) about a specific Case Study in the healthcare sector and also why fines apportioned in the fire sector tend to be lower than for prosecutions in the Health and Safety domain.

Episode 41 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes interviews with Mark Whiteley (sales director for the UK and Ireland at asecos), Tony Smith (managing director of Vox Ignis) and Mandy Bowden (fire systems manager for Comelit-PAC).

Mark Whiteley discusses the dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries, while Tony Smith concentrates on standards development and the future roadmap for the voice alarms market. Mandy Bowden looks at wireless fire safety systems, the necessity for staff training and also the influence of new Government legislation on the sector.

As always, Brian and Mark review the latest industry news. Topics covered include the safety risks continuing to impact tall buildings in London and the Institution of Fire Engineers’ new strategy document entitled ‘Leading Fire Safety’.