New Fire Standard puts organisational learning at the heart of continuous improvement 

A new Organisational Learning Fire Standard has been published by the Fire Standards Board (FSB), strengthening how fire and rescue services capture, share and embed learning. It has been published alongside revised leadership standards and a change to the Operational Preparedness Fire Standard, creating greater alignment across the Fire Standards framework. 

The new Organisational Learning Fire Standard replaces the Operational Learning Fire Standard and broadens the focus beyond operational activity, promoting a whole-system approach to learning across all functions, disciplines and levels of a fire and rescue service. 

It provides a dedicated framework to help services embed learning across their organisations, supporting continuous improvement, organisational effectiveness and the safety of communities and employees. 

Alongside the new standard, revised versions of the Leading the Service and Leading and Developing People Fire Standards have been published following a comprehensive review. 

The changes were informed by sector feedback, inspection findings and the continuing development of the wider suite of Fire Standards, ensuring the standards reflect current priorities and expectations across the sector 

The revisions respond to three key areas: findings from HMICFRS’s Standards of Behaviour: The Handling of Misconduct in Fire and Rescue Services report; the integration of finance and asset management principles into existing Fire Standards; and the introduction of the new Organisational Learning Fire Standard. 

Together, the changes strengthen expectations around leadership behaviours, culture, professionalism and accountability, while reinforcing the important role leaders play in creating learning cultures that drive improvement, innovation and better outcomes for communities. 

As part of the development of the new Organisational Learning Fire Standard, operationally focused content from the former Operational Learning Fire Standard has been transferred to the Operational Preparedness Fire Standard. This ensures key operational learning principles remain within the Fire Standards framework, while providing a clearer distinction between organisational learning and operational preparedness. 

Suzanne McCarthy, Chair of the Fire Standards Board, said: 

“The publication of the new Organisational Learning Fire Standard represents an important step forward in our mission to support excellence and consistency across the fire and rescue sector. 

“It places continuous improvement at the heart of fire and rescue services, helping to ensure learning is embedded in everyday practice and shared effectively. 

“Together with the changes to our leadership and Operational Preparedness Fire Standards, this provides greater clarity and alignment across the Fire Standards framework and supports services to learn, improve and deliver better outcomes for their communities.” 

The publication marks a further step in ensuring Fire Standards continue to reflect sector learning, priorities and evolving professional practice helping services to learn, improve and deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve. 

Fire Standards are professional benchmarks for fire and rescue services in England. They define what good looks like and provide a consistent framework to support improvement across service delivery. 

ENDS 

Notes to editors 

• The Fire Standards Board oversees the identification, development, publication and maintenance of professional standards for fire and rescue services in England. 

• The Organisational Learning Fire Standard replaces the Operational Learning Fire Standard and broadens the approach to learning beyond operational activity. 

• The Leading the Service and Leading and Developing People Fire Standards have been revised following a comprehensive review informed by sector feedback, inspection findings and the development of new Fire Standards. 

• Operationally focused content from the former Operational Learning Fire Standard has been transferred to the Operational Preparedness Fire Standard to ensure key operational learning principles remain within the Fire Standards framework.