In simplest form the Fire Standards Board oversees the identification, organisation, development and maintenance of professional standards for fire and rescue services in England, ensuring that consultatio: has been undertaken with experts and stakeholders and that every standard undergoes an independent quality assurance process. The outcome is that standards set the benchmark, provide the framework and impetus for continual improvement to literally raise the bar for FRS performance. The service needs standards. Born out of the fire reform agenda in 2016 as part of a suite of initiatives that included the reintroduction of the inspectorate, the Fire Standards Board was a central component of the reform agenda, although it was felt by government that it had to be driven by the sector. "The reform agenda needed to be owned by the sector and not by Whitehall, with the sector empowered to shape and develop reforms and become 'self-transforming!" With that raison d'etre Suzanne assumed the mantle with some gusto. Her passion and conviction for Fire Standards shone throughout our conversation, with this her revealing parting comment. "It's been a real privilege and I feel quite honored to be allowed to do this. I feel very honored that I have been asked to chair this board because I feel it's a real responsibility. It's nice to work in the sector that is so receptive and wants to be the best it can be. I feel that this has been a job that I really wanted to do and to do well."
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