JLA bolsters fire safety and security offering with new hires

JLA, a leading critical equipment and services provider, has grown its fire safety and security team, after experiencing increased demand for the service offering. The team has welcomed two fire-risk assessors and a trainee risk assessor as part of the appointments, who will service customers nationwide.

Fire risk assessor Tom Lewis joins from Delta Fire Systems, where he spent eight years carrying out in-depth fire-risk assessments on a diverse range of businesses and buildings. He is a member of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (TIFSM) and is a qualified Member (MIFSM). Andy McGurk is a fire-risk assessor with more than seven years of experience. He joins from Gateshead Council where he assisted with the provision of an occupational health & safety service for the local authority and its partners. Trainee fire risk assessor Katie Grula joins from Dacorum Borough Council, Hemel Hempstead, where she regularly managed fire safety maintenance projects.

The new additions take JLA’s fire safety and security division to seven members, with plans to add more new team members in the coming months.

Following a significant investment into a range of acquisitions in 2020 and 2021, the JLA Group now incorporates multiple fire safety brands and businesses, including FireBright Solutions, Fire FM, Astral Fire, Firewatch, MacDonald Martin and ITS Group. It brings together decades of experience within fire safety and security provision. The combined offering makes JLA the market leader in fire safety and security product supply, installation, testing and risk assessment support. 

It also makes the organisation one of a few firms to offer solutions that fully comply with the Fire Safety Act (2021), from initial risk assessments and site surveys through to equipment installations and maintenance for critical devices.

The team growth follows an increased demand for fire safety and security services, which JLA has experienced in recent months, potentially as a result of the introduction of the Fire Safety Act. The Act, which came into full force in May 2022, introduced new considerations for fire risk assessments in particular. 

Chloe Vickery, national fire risk assessment manager at JLA Group, said: ‘It’s a pleasure to welcome Tom, Katie and Andy to our growing team. JLA has experienced incredible demand for our fire safety and security services in recent years, as organisations work to ensure they meet changing legal requirements. As a result, we have significantly invested in our teams and the businesses we work with, through new hires and considered acquisitions.

‘At all times, we want to ensure customers have access to the most up-to-date and comprehensive knowledge in this area. Tom, Katie and Andy will play a vital role in this, and their combined experience really expands the expertise our customers can call on. We’re excited to welcome them to the JLA family.’

JLA supports over 25,000 customers across the UK, within catering, healthcare, hospitality, social housing and more.