FIA outlines international activity and export priorities across a busy 2025
Iain Hoey
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FIA blog reviews international focus across 2025
The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has published a new blog by Head of Marketing Helen Whittington to set out how its 2025 international activity has supported UK fire safety expertise at events in Gibraltar, Finland and Singapore.
In the blog, the association described 2025 as a year in which it expanded its international footprint, increased support for members seeking overseas growth and underlined its role in convening partners across the global fire safety community.
According to the blog, the FIA framed this activity around sharing UK technical knowledge, supporting exports and strengthening regional and international partnerships for member companies.
FIA fire safety summit builds links in Gibraltar
Whittington wrote that the year began with the first FIA Fire Safety Summit Gibraltar, held on 15 May 2025 aboard the Sunborn Gibraltar Hotel.
The blog said the event brought together fire safety professionals, regulators and industry figures from Gibraltar and the wider region for a full day of technical discussion and networking.
According to the association, FIA Chief Executive Ian Moore opened the summit by focusing on the FIA’s mission to raise competency standards while reinforcing both regional and international relationships.
Speakers were reported to include Colin Ramirez, Chief Fire Officer of Gibraltar Fire and Rescue, former Government Chief Fire Adviser Sir Ken Knight and a series of senior experts who examined operational challenges, lessons from major incidents such as Grenfell, developments in European fire standards and new technologies.
The blog added that an exhibition area ran alongside the conference, with companies such as Aico, AJ Sheriff Electrical, Britannia Fire, C-TEC, The Fire Door Inspectors and Hyfire showing products and services.
The FIA stated that strong attendance and interaction at the summit helped strengthen ties within Gibraltar and created a platform for further association activity in the territory.
FinnSec presence extends FIA role in Northern Europe
The blog reported that the FIA then took part in FinnSec 2025, held from 8 to 9 October 2025 at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre in Finland.
According to the association, the event is viewed as a key Scandinavian trade fair for security and fire protection solutions and offered an opportunity to reach a broad network of Northern European stakeholders.
The FIA wrote that it was joined on the stand by member companies including C-TEC, Vimpex, Eurotech Fire Systems, Kidde Global Solutions, Patol, Protec Fire and Security Group, Coopers Fire and Detectortesters.
The blog explained that this was the first time the FIA had underwritten the cost of shared stand space so that several members could use it jointly as an FIA-branded platform.
Whittington said this approach allowed UK manufacturers to promote their systems together and present a wider view of the UK fire industry’s capabilities.
According to the blog, visitors included manufacturers, innovators and decision-makers from sectors that rely on fire protection, occupational safety, electronic security, data protection and risk management.
The association wrote that FinnSec gave the FIA fresh opportunities to build relationships, exchange knowledge and highlight the role of UK fire safety technologies across Northern Europe.
UK Pavilion in Singapore showcases Asia engagement
Whittington stated that the FIA’s 2025 international schedule ended at Fire Safety Event Asia 2025, held from 11 to 13 November 2025 at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre in Singapore.
The blog said the FIA partnered with the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) to co-host a UK Pavilion for the show’s inaugural edition.
According to the association, the joint pavilion brought together Vimpex, Patol, Coopers and Eurotech to present UK fire sector products and services to buyers and delegates from across the Asia-Pacific region.
Whittington reported that FIA Head of Commercial Chris Tilley described visitor engagement and discussions at the stand as particularly strong, with interest from APAC markets and beyond.
The blog added that Tilley also praised event organiser Nineteen Group for its role in delivering the first Fire Safety Event Asia.
Whittington wrote that the collaboration with the BSIA reflects an ongoing strategic partnership through which the BSIA manages UK Pavilions at events such as Intersec Dubai and Intersec Saudi Arabia, providing routes for UK businesses to increase visibility in priority overseas markets.
Export Council linking FIA members to overseas markets
Alongside event activity, the blog highlighted the ongoing role of the FIA Export Council in supporting international growth for UK members.
According to the association, the Export Council helps companies access overseas markets, build strategic export capabilities and cooperate around shared trade objectives.
The blog linked this work to what it described as growing member interest in international expansion and invited organisations seeking to extend their global reach to join the Council.
Whittington wrote that across Gibraltar, Helsinki and Singapore a consistent theme was the FIA’s focus on raising standards, supporting competence and forming partnerships with counterparts in other countries.
The association said it plans to build on this work in 2026 by expanding international collaborations, supporting member exports and further developing its role in global discussions on fire safety.
The blog concluded that 2025 had marked a clear step in the FIA’s international programme and that the association intends to continue working with members, partners and overseas colleagues on future activity.
Readers can view the full blog on the Fire Industry Association website.
How FIA’s international work affects exporters and specifiers
The FIA blog sets out how shared stands and summits are providing UK fire sector manufacturers with new ways to reach decision-makers in territories such as Gibraltar, Scandinavia and Singapore.
For procurement officers, fire safety officers and facility managers in those regions, joint FIA presences at events like FinnSec 2025 and Fire Safety Event Asia 2025 mean a wider range of UK fire protection products and systems can be assessed in one place.
For equipment specifiers, system installers and fire-protection contractors, the Export Council’s activities and the use of UK Pavilions highlight where UK suppliers are actively seeking new distribution channels and partnerships.
For standards and certification bodies, as well as fire engineering consultants, the FIA summits and conference programmes described in the blog give additional forums where UK experience with incidents such as Grenfell and evolving European standards is being discussed with international counterparts.