Hainsworth Protective Fabrics are proud to announce our status as corporate members of the Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA). AFSA is an independent staff network that works with Fire and Rescue Services across the UK to promote diversity and inclusion. Now over a decade old, the Association’s mission is to support its members as they work to make equality, diversity, and inclusion mainstream, and to reduce the inequalities faced by fire staff and wider communities.
Figures from a 2020 study show that only 5% of all UK fire staff are from a BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) background. When this is narrowed to senior staff, this figure shrinks to only 2.9%. By comparison, 13% of the overall UK population is from a BAME background. The fire service also skews heavily male, with female firefighters making up only 7% of the workforce.
AFSA have made it their mission to tackle these imbalances, and to ensure that the Fire Service is not only diverse but inclusive, allowing the voice of all its members to be heard and respected. In achieving this goal, Fire Services can more effectively communicate with and meet the needs of the public across every community.
At Hainsworth, we believe that diversity is crucial to any business or organisation’s success. The different experiences, views, and ideas that our people bring to the workplace are a key driving factor behind our continued evolution and progression. This is why we are committed to supporting AFSA in their vital work ensuring the Fire Service can successfully serve everyone, regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, class or disability.
Hainsworth Protective Fabrics will be sponsoring and exhibiting at the AFSA Winter Conference 2021, a 2-day showcase hosted by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service exploring how nurturing an inclusive culture can lead to innovation and increased productivity. Join us in Liverpool on 25th and 26th November to experience what is sure to be an incisive, informative, and essential event.