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Over the past two decades, the conversation around firefighter PPE has changed dramatically. Protection remains paramount, but comfort, contamination control, sustainability and inclusivity are now shaping procurement decisions just as much as performance. Ballyclare, which has exhibited at 18 of The Emergency Services Show‘s 20 editions, has adapted alongside those changing demands.
For Philip Tasker, Global Sales Lead (Fire and Security) for Ballyclare, returning year after year has never simply been about exhibiting products. Instead, it has been about maintaining relationships with a sector built on long-term partnerships.
“The Emergency Services Show is the main event in the UK for us. It’s a great chance to catch up with existing customers, meet new ones and perhaps just as importantly, maintain relationships. Sometimes a 15-minute conversation over a coffee is invaluable because this industry is built on long-term relationships. It’s not an event you dip in and out of – having that consistent presence really matters.”
Philip Tasker, Global Sales Lead (Fire and Security) for Ballyclare.
That consistency has mirrored the growth of The Emergency Services Show itself. From its earlier years to today’s much larger event at the NEC Birmingham, the show has expanded not only in size but in reach, with seminars, podcasts, webinars and digital content now extending conversations well beyond the exhibition hall.
Protection is no longer the only priority
Perhaps nowhere has the industry’s evolution been more evident than in the expectations placed on personal protective equipment.
While firefighter protection was once measured almost exclusively by resistance to heat and flame, today’s conversations have broadened considerably to include comfort, ergonomics, contamination control and long-term health. Philip points to the shift that followed significant improvements in firefighter protection during the 1990s.
“We suddenly realised we were protecting firefighters from the outside, but effectively cooking them on the inside. Breathability and ergonomics suddenly came to the fore, while maintaining the same levels of protection. That led to real changes in fibres, garment construction and the way PPE was designed.”
Alongside improvements in garment design came a wider recognition that manufacturers needed to support the entire lifecycle of PPE rather than simply supplying it.
Repair, decontamination, laundering and maintenance have become integral parts of protecting firefighters, particularly as awareness has grown around carcinogen exposure and contamination risks.
“Care and maintenance has become just as important as the clothing itself. It isn’t simply about supplying PPE anymore – it’s about repair, washing, decontamination and supporting the whole lifecycle of the garment. Those conversations around particulates, carcinogens and PFAS are very much ongoing, and rightly so.”
Supporting a changing frontline
As emergency services respond to increasingly diverse incidents, the demand for specialist PPE has grown significantly. While structural firefighting clothing remains essential, fire and rescue services are increasingly seeking garments designed specifically for technical rescue, water rescue and the growing threat of wildfires.
“The reality is structural firefighting kit is only used for a relatively small proportion of incidents. Fire and rescue services need clothing that’s fit for the other 90% of what they do, whether that’s technical rescue, water rescue or increasingly responding to wildfires. One size doesn’t fit every incident anymore.”
Ballyclare’s experience across Europe has also given the company valuable insight into wildland firefighting, an area becoming increasingly relevant in the UK as hotter, drier summers become more common.
Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, the company has focused on developing specialist clothing tailored to different operational environments.
Sustainability and inclusivity move into the spotlight
The conversation around PPE has also broadened beyond operational performance. Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration for emergency service procurement teams, from recyclable materials through to reducing the environmental impact of clothing maintenance.
For Ballyclare, managed service models that utilise regional cleaning and maintenance partners are helping reduce transport emissions while improving resilience for customers.
At the same time, expectations around comfort, fit and inclusivity have continued to evolve. As more women join the fire and rescue service and workforces become increasingly diverse, manufacturers are expected to offer PPE that fits properly rather than adapting standard designs.
Ballyclare offers male, female and unisex garment shapes across dozens of size combinations, recognising that properly fitting PPE is about more than comfort.
“If people feel good about what they’re given, they tend to perform better and they also look after it better. These are high-value garments designed to protect people in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. PPE doesn’t just have to perform – it has to fit properly, feel comfortable and give firefighters confidence when they’re wearing it.”
The value of bringing the sector together
Although Ballyclare’s work is predominantly within the fire and rescue sector, Philip believes one of The Emergency Services Show’s greatest strengths is bringing multiple blue light services together under one roof.
As joint working between emergency services continues to increase, ideas and innovations are often shared across organisational boundaries.
“They all attend the same incidents and naturally they compare equipment, technologies and ways of working. Those conversations often spark new ideas about what could be adopted elsewhere. You increasingly see that crossover between the emergency services, and bringing everyone together under one roof creates opportunities that you don’t always get at more specialist events.”
Looking ahead
With The Emergency Services Show entering its third decade, Philip expects collaboration to become an even stronger theme across the sector. Regional procurement, continued focus on firefighter health and wellbeing, and further innovation in managed PPE services are all likely to shape the years ahead.
For Ballyclare, this year’s event will also provide the first UK showcase for several new developments following the latest National Fire Chiefs Council collaborative PPE framework. While details remain under wraps ahead of September, visitors can expect to see the next stage in the company’s evolution.
As Philip reflects on nearly two decades at the show, one thing remains unchanged.
“We’ve been coming back because it’s about relationships. The products evolve, the industry evolves and the show evolves, but bringing people together to have those conversations is still what makes The Emergency Services Show so valuable. That’s remained true for nearly 20 years, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.”
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Ballyclare 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 J50. Register to attend here.
