On Friday 18 July, our BFRS family came together for our annual People Awards event, a night dedicated to recognising the outstanding contributions and achievements from our members of staff. The event this year was hosted at the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury.
This year, we had 10 awards categories, each award acknowledged colleagues who had gone above and beyond, highlighting exceptional work and recognising those who continue to take our new promise, values and behaviours in their stride. The nominations were filled out by staff, judged anonymously and announced on the night.
These awards celebrated exceptional work from individuals who have embraced our promise to deliver an excellent, modern, and agile Fire & Rescue Service for our community. The winners include those who have demonstrated their commitment to ensuring the service has the right staff with the right skills at the right time to keep our community safe, while consistently striving to protect and safeguard people and places.
A message from our CFO Louise Harrison
“I am incredibly proud to have exceptionally skilled and hardworking individuals whose dedication, commitment, and public service values shine through. Recognising and celebrating their achievements is a significant event in our calendar.
For this year’s People Awards we have celebrated the outstanding achievements in Innovation, Leadership, and Community Engagement. Each award is dedicated to recognising the remarkable contributions of our staff, whose commitment and hard work continually drive positive change within our organisation and beyond.”
Award categories
This year, we received an overwhelming number of nominations, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication within our organisation.
Here are winners for each category:
Culture and Inclusion Award
Gavin Gillings recognised for not only for his dedication, but for his deep personal commitment to creating a culture where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued – both inside our Service and out in the wider community.
Health, Safety & Wellbeing Award
Kieron Thomas for being proactive, passionate, and always ready to step up, whether he’s working to improve safety standards as an FBU Health & Safety Rep, advocating for better policies around clean cab procedures and decontamination, or pushing forward initiatives that protect crews and future-proof our service. Innovation Award
Rising Talent Award
Jason Manders ‘s ambition, combined with his compassionate and strategic thinking, allows him to balance the needs of other teams while driving compliance and excellence. He has stepped up to cover the department on his own, delivering training, presenting detailed reports to senior boards, and provide expert advice to colleagues and stakeholders across all levels.
Impact Award
Sasha Weaver has already become a role model, a leader, and a shining light for those around her, despite only joining the Service 5 months ago. With an infectious smile and a can-do attitude, Sasha brings energy, warmth, and professionalism into every space she enters.
Stu Long – As a natural mentor and people-centred leader, Stu listens deeply, supports generously, and brings others along on the journey. Stu’s genuine care, dedication, and leadership have positively shaped our Service in profound ways – inspiring those around him.
Community Action Award
Jack Edwards has been instrumental in bringing Cadets programme to life, dedicating countless hours of his own time to researching, planning, and collaborating with national agencies to create opportunities for young people across the service. He is also the driving force behind the Veterans Walk-In Centre at West Ashland Fire Station.
Operational Team of the Year
Operational Learning & Assurance Team have played a pivotal role in driving real improvements across our Service over the past 12 months. Working as a cohesive and outward-facing team, they have strengthened relationships with crews, other fire and rescue services, and key partners like Network Rail.
Support Team of the Year
Finance Team – Through a bold move to implement Zero-Based Budgeting, the team identified significant savings, which were then reinvested directly into service delivery. That’s not just numbers on a spreadsheet – that’s a real, tangible impact for our teams, our operations, and our community.
The Fire Fighters Charity Award
Darren Vincent took on the role of becoming the Charity Rep at Buckingham Fire Station, the station had previously raised around £400 for the Fire Fighters Charity. Fast forward just one year, and that figure has soared to over £4,500. That remarkable leap wasn’t a coincidence. It was Darren – his energy, his ideas and his dedicated time.
Chief Fire Officer’s Outstanding Service Award
Graham Freer plays a pivotal role in supporting the emotional and practical needs of our workforce, offering a compassionate and knowledgeable presence when it’s needed most.
Through his empathy, professionalism, and tireless dedication, Graham exemplifies what it means to truly care for others in the workplace. His work not only uplifts individuals but strengthens the fabric of our entire community.
Chairmans Award
Andrew Reeves hasn’t just managed change, he’s driven transformation – implementing new hydrant management software, creating smarter systems for tracking defects, invoicing, and inspections, and has established clear communication channels with water companies, councils, and planning departments.
He has also worked tirelessly to make hydrant safety a core part of future planning, ensuring that no home in Buckinghamshire will be more than 90 metres from a hydrant. That’s a legacy that will protect lives for years to come.