The National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Digital and Data Programme is commencing the final stage of delivering a national data analytics capability that will make efficient and effective use of data to support current and emerging needs of the UK fire and rescue service (UKFRS), as well as ongoing decision making and policy development.

Once fully implemented, the resource will be a central function of the NFCC comprising of skilled people, standardised processes, and technology, providing national data analytics and data governance to the NFCC and UKFRS to solve problems and support decision making.

Programme Executive and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s CFO, Andy Hopkinson, said: “I’m really proud to be leading the team on this project with NFCC’s Data and Digital Programme Manager Steve Beakhust.  Its successful implementation will be a game-changer for the UK Fire and Rescue Service, however, customers of the planned National Data Analytics resource could also include partner agencies, such as the NHS, as well as external change programmes and committees associated with NFCC’s Portfolio.

“We also want to attract the best in digital and data talent to join us on this journey.  This is a fantastic opportunity to play a leading part in the development of a project that will be rolled out on national level, changing the way data is collected and analysed for the fire and rescue sector and beyond.”

The core services provided by the analytics resource will include problem solving (through descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics), data sourcing (from internal and external sources, including data cleansing), and data consulting (such as methodology and subject research). Initially there will be limited capacity and service provision for proving the approach, with a focus on processing the highest value data questions to support areas of the NFCC change portfolio. This pilot approach will launch early 2022.  Over time the capability will scale up to the target state, providing the full suite of business services and a capacity to match demand

Additional functions of the national data analytics capability will include:

• a controlled, governed processes to identify, assess and prioritise issues where data could provide insight
• support to local data teams for analysis at a national level
• support to local data teams to supply data that shares insight to national trends and analytics
• establishment of standards, agreements and processes that enable services and partners to share data in a controlled, secure, legal, and ethical manner
• capabilities to source, catalogue, enrich and manage data in support of developing insight to prioritised national issues
• data sourcing, visualisation, analytics, and modelling
• a data analysis capability which creates actionable insight in support of prioritised national issues
• establishing arrangements with local FRS, partner agencies, academia, and industry to collaborate and share best practice
• driving a culture of standardisation, consistency, and efficiency

For further information please email [email protected]