Lyon Work & Rescue on how multi-agency working is reshaping rescue kit and training

Lyon Work & Rescue’s work sits in a part of the sector where equipment, training and real-world use are closely linked. Supplying kit for work at height and technical rescue means products need to perform reliably in complex, high-risk environments and be understood by the people using them.

That has shaped how the company approaches both design and delivery. Lyon’s background in caving, climbing, the outdoor sector, the work at height industry and rescue continues to inform its work with the emergency services, with a focus on how equipment behaves in practice rather than how it looks on paper.

“Our long heritage in caving and climbing and our knowledge and experience for the work at height and rescue sector gives us a strong understanding of real-world scenarios. A lot of what we do is rooted in that experience, but just as important is the feedback we get from customers using the equipment in very different environments and operational contexts. That combination is what really drives how we develop and refine our products.”

Mike Robinson, Head of Work & Rescue

Training forms part of that same approach. Rather than treating it as a separate offer, Lyon positions it alongside its equipment, reflecting the reality that performance depends on how confidently and correctly kit is used.

“When using work at height and rescue equipment, correct training is essential to ensure it is used safely and in line with technical guidance,” Robinson says. “But it also goes beyond compliance. We see training and equipment as working together. By combining the two, we can make sure people are not only using kit safely, but using it effectively in real operational conditions, where decisions and performance really matter.”

Those operational needs are evolving. Lyon points to a steady increase in crossover between services, with fire, rescue and other agencies working more closely together. That shift is changing expectations around both equipment and training.

“We’re seeing more crossover between the different emergency services. That’s having a real impact on the kinds of requirements we’re hearing. There’s a much stronger emphasis on adaptability now, because equipment often needs to perform across different environments and scenarios, sometimes with very different operational pressures. That’s also driving a need for more joined-up training, so teams can work more effectively together in multi-agency situations.”

For Lyon, that has meant a more incremental, problem-led approach to development. As both a manufacturer and distributor, the company can either adapt its own products or adjust its wider range in response to what it is hearing from customers.

“Having in-house manufacturing means we can respond quite quickly when we see something coming through from customers,” Robinson says. “Sometimes that’s small design adjustments, sometimes it’s developing new solutions altogether. It really depends on what the operational need is, but being able to act on that feedback directly is a big advantage for us.”

Recent developments reflect that focus, including the introduction of scannable NFC technology across parts of Lyon’s range, designed to simplify processes such as PPE checks and reduce time spent on routine tasks.

It is in that context that The Emergency Services Show has remained a constant for the business. After 19 years exhibiting, Lyon sees the event less as a showcase and more as a working environment for engaging directly with the people using its equipment.

The show brings much of the sector into one space, creating time for more detailed, practical discussions than tend to happen through day-to-day communication.

“The Emergency Services Show brings a large number of our customers together in one place. That means we can have proper conversations about how equipment is actually being used in the field, what’s working well, and where there are challenges. Those discussions are often much more detailed than what you get through other channels, because people are able to get hands-on with equipment and really talk through specific operational scenarios.”

Those discussions tend to focus less on individual products and more on how equipment, training and procedures work together in practice, particularly in a multi-agency context.

“It also gives us really valuable insight into operational requirements,” he adds. “When people are able to get hands-on with equipment, it often leads to more detailed feedback about how it performs in real situations. That then feeds directly into how we think about product development and where we might need to make improvements or introduce new innovations.”

That direct contact provides a concentrated period of insight into how requirements are shifting across the sector.

After nearly two decades at the show, Lyon sees its presence not as a marker of change, but as a consistent part of how it works – testing ideas against real use and narrowing the gap between design and deployment through direct engagement with the people on the ground.

Lyon Equipment is exhibiting at The Emergency Services Show 2026, taking place from 16-17 September at the NEC in Birmingham. You can find them on Stand H12. Register your interest to attend here.