CLASS OF 2022: Emergency services leader recognised with honorary award

A leading local emergency service leader has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Wolverhampton for his contribution to community safety in the West Midlands. 

Phil Loach has been awarded a Doctor of Professional Practice in recognition of his service to the West Midlands Fire Service. 

Honorary awards are presented by the University of Wolverhampton to people who have made a significant contribution to their field of expertise. 

Phil Loach is the Chief Fire Officer of West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) and is responsible for the provision of emergency response, business safety and community safety services to over 2.7 million people across the West Midlands covering the seven Local Authorities of Birmingham, Walsall, Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Coventry and Solihull. 

As Chief Fire Officer he has specific responsibility for advising the Fire and Rescue Authority as to its statutory responsibilities in the provision of an excellent, efficient and effective fire service. He plays a significant role in ensuring the community receives a risk-based provision of service as part of an effective and integrated strategy for service delivery and for ensuring assertive, safe and effective systems of work as part of operational preparedness. 

Phil has also played a key role at the national level, serving for a number of years as the Vice-chair National Fire Chief Council, and continues to lead on the national Community Risk Programme, which aims to deliver a national definition of risk and a set of standardised tools and guidance to support the community risk management process for fire and rescue services across the UK.  

Initially serving as a firefighter, Phil undertook a number of roles across the service before becoming CFO of WMFS. Phil’s unique leadership style is founded upon a continuous commitment to organisation development and rich communication. This has and continues to enable the transformation of services across WMFS through a period of unprecedented political and economic change.