I’m Kevin Longshaw, and my journey with the fire and rescue service began in 1977 when, as a four-year-old, I was rescued from a fire, an experience that profoundly shaped my career choice. I joined Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service as a firefighter in 1998 and now serve as Area Manager, Head of Operational Training and Internal National Resilience Resources.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked alongside a wide range of operational and non-uniformed colleagues, experiences that have helped me develop in a number of areas, leading me to become one of the original members of the UK’s first full-time search and rescue team in 2004 and in later years a member of the International Search & Rescue team.
I’ve been seconded to the National Resilience Assurance Team on two occasions. The first as part of the initial team that rolled out the National Resilience assets across England and Wales and later in 2012 where I contributed to the emergency planning for the London Olympics. In 2019, I secured my first Area Manager role as lead officer for the National Resilience Assurance Team (NRAT), leading the team through the Covid pandemic. I have also headed up the protection function in Merseyside before moving into my current role. Alongside operational deployments in the UK and overseas, I’ve worked across health and safety, fire safety and hostile environment training, and I am now a qualified coach and mentor. My career has been more of an adventure than a journey, and I remain as proud and motivated today as when I completed my recruit training in 1998.
My role as the head of operational training affords me the privilege and responsibility to ensure all our operational personnel are trained, skilled, competent, but more importantly confident in their roles. My day to day is very much centred around engaging with my team, our operational crews and associated stakeholders to ensure that the training we’re providing is relevant and to the highest of standards.
From a national resilience role perspective, I have oversight of our national resilience assets and the specialist stations where they are housed. I work closely with the relevant officers and technicians in ensuring those assets are readily available for local, regional or national deployment. I also ensure our personnel have everything they need to be effective in serving not only the communities of Merseyside, but the UK as a whole.
For me, it’s always been about people. Witnessing individuals experience the highest highs and lowest lows gives real perspective on what truly matters. When you focus on people — whether our staff or the communities we serve — everything else follows. It’s people, not possessions, who lift you when you’re on your chinstraps.
One moment that stays with me was deploying to the British Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma in 2017. Leading a reconnaissance team through a village that had been completely devastated, we met a man named Cyril. He was carefully sweeping the decking — the only part of his home left standing. Listening to him speak about his situation and mindset, while still living through such a life-altering event, was both humbling and inspiring. People can present the greatest challenges in the fire and rescue service, but by some distance, they are definitely the most rewarding and enjoyable piece of our diverse jigsaw.
Over 28 years you create an extensive portfolio whether it be qualifications or experiential in its nature. However, my greatest sense of accomplishment comes from seeing those who I’ve had the opportunity to support and guide and see them go on to achieve their goals and aspirations. I’ve been fortunate and humbled to be part of a number of people’s journeys and being able to be a small part of their success has given me immense pride over the years.
If I had to single out one achievement of my own, it would be successfully completing my recruit course in 1998 and achieving my boyhood dream.
I’m neurodiverse and didn’t find school easy. While I did well enough, studying, presenting and report writing have always required real focus to meet the standards expected. I joined the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) initially not for the professional or global recognition, but as a personal coping tool. I call it my “If Ever” (If E) qualification. Like many, I experience moments of self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Alongside career successes, I’ve faced setbacks, it took three attempts to secure a Station Manager position, two for Group Manager role, one successful attempt for Area Manager, and more recently, three unsuccessful ACFO interviews.
During tougher moments, “if ever” I find myself being overly critical, I open a folder in my office containing my career certificates. My IFE Member certificate has a yellow sticky note so I can find it quickly. I pause on the calligraphy and the words, “to give impulse to ideas… likely to be useful to the community at large.” Knowing I’m part of a global professional community, held to recognised standards, helps steady my perspective and soften my own personal disappointment. I’ve had cause to take that certificate out a few times of late, so to the IFE, thank you.
Without wanting to sound provocative, but firefighting isn’t for everyone, in much the same way as countless jobs are not for everyone. However, I honestly believe the fire and rescue service can be for anyone.
Even if you don’t think being a firefighter is your path, you can still make such a huge and positive difference to the communities around us in a variety of roles within the sector. Not all of the heroes and inspiring people I’ve met in my almost 28 years’ service have been operational. I’m grateful to have a role that makes a huge difference to people’s lives and I get to do that every day. If you’re someone who has strong values and a centred moral compass and believe your qualities and attributes can make a difference, give other people the opportunity to benefit from what you have to offer. Who knows where it may take you?