Connect. Inspire. Influence.

Expand your professional network, connect with peers and industry leaders, open doors and create business opportunities.

Participation exposes you to the latest industry trends, best practices and different view points.

Enhance communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and organisational skills, as well as developing your leadership and management abilities.

Opportunities to engage in public speaking, project management, and other volunteer activities.

The experience and exposure gained through active volunteering adds credibility, and can boost your career prospects, making you a more attractive candidate for promotions and new job opportunities.

Many volunteering activities contribute to your CPD, helping you maintain and enhance your professional competencies.

Participate in the development of industry standards and policies, influencing the future of fire engineering.

Help to raise standards and promote fire safety to protect lives and property.

Guide the next generation of professionals.

Engaging in regular volunteering can enhance happiness, life satisfaction, and self-esteem. By giving time and effort and sharing your expertise, volunteers often experience a sense of fulfilment and purpose, positively contributing to overall wellbeing.

Our branch network consists of over 30 worldwide branches who play a primary role in facilitating events to include webinars, conferences, meetings, and workshops to enable learning and networking opportunities for fire professionals to maintain or develop new skills and competencies.

Branches are run independently by a committee of volunteers who are also the Trustees of the branch. The committee consists of a Chair/President, a Secretary, a General Assembly Representative (IGA Rep) and other roles as required. Rules for branch governance including the process for elections at the branch AGM are prescribed within their own branch constitution.

Getting involved with your branch can mean as much or as little time you can spare. You could help support the administration of the branch, help to organise and project manage events or offer your time as a speaker to name a few activities.

• How to apply: Contact your local branch directly to find out about the opportunities currently available. Find your local branch here.
• View the volunteer role descriptions here.

The IGA is a member forum connecting appointed representatives from our worldwide network of branches and groups. The forum is led by an IGA Leader and IGA Vice Leader who serve to enable collaboration on a range of international fire related issues.

• Learn more about the IGA here. 
• View the volunteer role requirements here.
• How to apply: 
  • We seek nominations for the IGA Leadership role in October each year.
  • To become an IGA Representative, please refer to your local branch or group for information on their individual election procedures.

Networking groups are supported and driven by a committee of volunteers who aim to bring together people with a shared interest to offer inspiration, support and enable the sharing of knowledge and experiences.

• Learn more about networking groups here.
• View the volunteer role descriptions here.
• How to apply: We advertise vacancies as and when they arise.

Special Interest Groups focus on research and education to influence fire safety within a specific field of fire. They are ed by a committee of like-minded volunteers sharing a common interest and expertise in a specific field of fire engineering who come together from practice, consultancy and academia to produce guides, codes of practice, seminars, contribute to consultations and provide a space to network and share ideas. 

• Learn more about Special Interest Groups here.
• View the volunteer role descriptions here.
• How to apply: We advertise vacancies as and when they arise.

Trustee Directors have an overriding duty to advance the purposes of the IFE and bear ultimate responsibility for its overall governance and strategic direction. The Board of Trustee Directors fulfils its functions both directly and through its board committees.

Volunteering as a Trustee Director is a great way to broaden your skills with hands-on strategy, governance and leadership.

• Learn more about our governance here. 
• View the volunteer role descriptions here.
• How to apply: We advertise vacancies usually around May each year.
  

The role of International President is held in high esteem and carries particular responsibilities in acting as the figurehead of the Institution, attending many international functions and taking an active role in promoting the image and role of the Institution with key stakeholders.

• View the volunteer role description here.
• How to apply: We advertise this vacancy usually around July each year.
  

Licensed by the Engineering Council, the IFE can register Chartered Engineers, Incorporated Engineers and Engineering Technicians. Volunteering as a peer reviewer or interviewer, you will play a crucial role in determining an applicant's suitability for registration; assessing their academic knowledge, understanding and experience against defined criteria.

• Learn more about Engineering Council Registration here.
• View the volunteer role requirements here.
• How to apply: Complete the online application form here. 
  

The ethics panel supports the IFE by ensuring accountability within the fire profession; promoting competency and ethical behaviours and investigating misconduct when there is a breach of our Code of Conduct in accordance with the approved Disciplinary Procedure.

• Learn more about the Disciplinary Procedure here and the Code of Conduct here.
• View the volunteer role requirements here.
• How to apply: Complete the online application form here. 

The IFE Fire Risk Register Panel are responsible for maintaining admission standards and subsequent ongoing periodic reviews of fire risk registrants in order to uphold competency and suitability of those carrying out fire risk assessments for life safety. Volunteers assess the academic knowledge, understanding and experience against defined criteria, they will also use their expertise to determine an applicant's competency at an interview.

• Learn more about Fire Risk Registration here. 
• View the volunteer role requirements here.
• How to apply: Complete the online application form here. 
  

Maintaining public trust and confidence in the fire profession, the Membership Application Assessment Panel (MAAP) assesses applicant suitability in accordance with the admission criteria expected of prospective members, and current members who are seeking to re-grade their membership.

• Learn more about IFE membership here.
• View the volunteer role requirements here.
• How to apply: Complete the online application form here. 

IFE awards formal recognition of training courses, training providers and educational programmes of study. Volunteers are selected to review applications that are aligned to their area of expertise, qualifications and experience. Reviews may involve an initial assessment of the course/training provider, they may conduct site visits and shall assist with the ongoing quality assurance checks via the programme of triennial review.

• Learn more about training recognitions here. 
• View the volunteer role requirements here.
• How to apply: Complete the online application form here. 

The technical panel serves as the steward and guiding influence for the institution on all technical matters. The views and comments received from members of the technical panel are invaluable as they help to ensure that IFE’s strategic technical direction, responses and influences reflect the views of the membership and are informed by practical experiences and expertise.

Led by a Chair, the technical panel also includes representation by each Special Interest Group (SIG), plus further subject matter experts as required. The committee coordinates the activities of SIGs, they also peer reviews technical articles, contribute to guides, consultations, codes of practices, draft legislation, industry working groups in the UK and internationally.

• How to apply: We advertise vacancies as and when they arise.
  

Volunteers support the IFE by upholding the integrity and parity of standards across all our vocational qualifications; this includes ensuring that each qualification specification is designed as such to adequality assess the specialist knowledge, skill and understanding required of those working in the fire profession, marking the completed scripts in accordance with the syllabi and mark schemes, and assisting with the logistics of running assessible exam centres worldwide.

• Learn more about IFE qualifications here.
• View the volunteer role requirements here.
• How to apply: Complete the online application form here. 

Have you been involved in a fire-related project or research? Share an article with us to feature in the International Fire Professional journal (IFP) as part of our technical perspectives.

• Contribute to the industry, helping to solve problems, innovate and push advancements in fire.
• Share knowledge and insights with our global membership.
• Enhance your professional reputation and credibility.
• Connect with other professionals, researchers and experts within the field of fire.
• Achieve a sense of accomplishment and pride in sharing your expertise and contributing to the professional community.

The subject matter should be focussed on a fire-related project or research and the word count should not exceed 6,000. High resolution imagery or diagrams should accompany the article wherever possible. All technical articles are peer reviewed prior to publication.

• Access back copies of the IFP to read previous technical articles here.
• How to submit: If you would like to explore this further, please contact our marketing team.

Did you know, if your project or research is one that could benefit the UK FRS, you might be eligible to apply for a grant. Learn more about the FSRTT.

Governments around the world often open consultations to seek the views of the public on particular pieces of work, policy or legislation.

By responding to consultations relevant to fire, this allows us to present the most recent information and evidence to policymakers, influencing their decisions and aid in the creation of well-informed policies and legislation.

We encourage members with the necessary expertise to participate, by contributing their views in the various open consultations available from time to time, helping IFE to develop its stance and shape our response to a range of critical issues.

• Input into open consultations and read our responses to previous consultations here. 
• Please let us know at technical@ife.org.uk, if your local government has a consultation that IFE should consider responding to.

Engage with peers, inspire others, share your experiences and drive your professional and personal development.

With a variety of events, workshops, conferences, seminars, meetings, surveys, consultations and many more activities on offer, there are numerous opportunities for you to be involved, no matter your level of experience, skill, your circumstance or how much time you can commit. Continuous learning and development is fundamental to being a professional, instilling trust, confidence, and ensuring public safety.

• Keep up to date with our scheduled of events here
• Follow our social channels for the latest news, surveys and consultations: LinkedIn, X or Facebook.
• Connect and get involved with activities available through our worldwide network of branches and groups here.

By sharing our mission, values, and the important work we do together, you can help us raise awareness and expand our reach. Your voice is powerful in highlighting the importance of fire safety and the continuous professional development that we champion.

We encourage you to engage with our posts and share our stories to inspire your networks to learn more about the vital role of fire professionals. You can also use our brand hashtag: #IFE to raise awareness.

Together we can ignite a broader conversation about our profession and the positive impact on global fire safety.

Speaking at an event provides a unique opportunity to showcase your expertise, elevate your professional profile and brand, and connect with industry leaders and peers. As a speaker, you'll gain unparalleled visibility and credibility, sharing your insights and inspiring the next generation of fire professionals.

Consider sharing your insights on upcoming innovations, findings and learnings from historic events, recent research, or the development of a new standard for example. Or you might be able to demonstrate the similarities and differences across cultures, codes, or legislation, or maybe you could offer tips for studying an IFE exam.

We are always seeking speakers willing to share their knowledge and experiences at our events, workshops and webinars. Facilitating the exchange of information and shared learning through meaningful conversations, debate and collaboration is at the heart of our charitable mission, and is key to helping us to ensure high standards of competency across the fire profession.

• How to apply: express your interest by completing the online form here.
• Speaker fees: as a charity we work on peer to peer learning and rely on the generosity of speakers donating their time. Your contribution helps us to continue to drive the fire profession forward.

The IFE e-newsletter is issued eight time a year to keep members informed of our work. Whether you are an individual member, or part of one of our branches or groups, we'd love to hear from you if you have any relevant news, updates or information that you would like to be considered.

If you have an idea for a submission please let us know at marketing@ife.org.uk.