As we emerge from the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic, there has never been a more poignant time to reflect on that journey over the last 12 months. 2020/2021 has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging and transformational years WMFS has ever faced.

While our outstanding emergency response continued as normal throughout the pandemic and the majority of serious incidents were attended in under five minutes, all other areas of the Service had to swiftly flex and adapt ways of working.

Evolving government guidance and announcements meant staff had to meet challenges head on, ensuring the most vulnerable were front and centre to every decision made.

This was later reflected in Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) report that praised our new ways of working and our ‘innovative’ use of technology which enabled flexible and efficient home working and allowed for the continuation and adaptation of critical prevention and protection activities.

One of the outcomes of the pandemic was the strengthening of existing partnerships and the many new partnerships formed. These will prove vital to future collaborative projects and initiatives with local councils and other emergency services, in supporting those most vulnerable in our communities.

There are three core elements that underpin much of our role as a fire service – our people, value for money and our digital approach. Staff culture, values and behaviours are at the very core of our service delivery. Regardless of role, we want all staff to understand how significant their contribution is and how it fits in to the bigger picture in terms of helping us to achieve our priorities.

We must ensure we recruit and retain the best staff to deliver services within a balanced budget while seeking out more efficient ways of developing and transforming what we do without compromising public safety or performance.

With the full economic impact of COVID-19 yet to be realised, we know the next few years are going to be extremely challenging.

Our focus on digital transformation has been the corner stone to our delivery of services, certainly during the pandemic. Across many parts of the Service digital change arrived much faster than we could have imagined but the positive outcomes of that have been far reaching.

We’re now proud to say that we can deliver some of our services just as well digitally.

Transforming our delivery of services that are fit for the future, will mean investing in digital approaches to create efficiencies in the longer term which will support ‘smarter’ ways of working.

Over the next year we will be looking to better understand how and why data and technology can improve the services we provide, efficiency and performance.

This delivery will, of course, only be possible with the continued commitment of our greatest asset – our workforce. A workforce that, against a backdrop of continuous change and significant financial challenges, remains ready, willing and able to play a major part in helping to ensure the people of the West Midlands live safer, healthier lives.