Lancashire Fire Safety Officer Named Bright Light

Joint Press release (Women in the Fire Service UK & Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service

NOT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Embargo date: 09.00, BST, Friday 6th May 2022

Jenny Nangle, a Fire Safety Enforcement Officer for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has been named ‘Bright Light’ award winner in the Women in the Fire Service Awards 2022.

Jenny, who joined Lancashire Fire Service in 2003, was nominated in the national awards for remarkable contributions to the Fire Service.

The ‘Bright Light Award’ category recognises individuals who have led the way in their role in the fire service, acting as a shining example to others. This is through recruitment, retention or progression of women or enabling women to develop through access to opportunities and resources.

About Jenny

Jane Williams, Jenny’s colleague and nominator, described her as passionate about Women in the fire Service UK (WFS), supporting women in the fire service, and working hard to promote training and activities to develop women further and encourage them for promotion and other opportunities.

Jenny represents Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service on the WFS National Committee and is also the WFS North West Regional Rep. She also supports the planning of the annual WFS national event and helps facilitate workshops.

Jane stated how Jenny was always there to offer support, guidance or just a listening ear to any issues or frustrations and how she drives for better conditions and working practices on behalf of all women.

The award submission detailed how Jenny helped to promote the organisation Women in the Fire Service UK at every opportunity, and how she was quick to support others with challenges. As well as this, Jane said her passion and drive was infectious and her tenacity ensured that actions progressed to benefit women working in the Fire Service.

Justin Johnston, Chief Fire Officer at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Jenny is truly deserving of this fantastic award, and I think it is very appropriate that she be awarded in this way. Her work in fire safety helps to make Lancashire a safer place for us all. I’m extremely proud to have learned that several Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service colleagues were nominated for awards, and I’m very pleased that Jenny has won. Jenny makes a very worthy candidate, and I think all the nominations are a great testament to the wonderful women we are lucky to have working in our organisation. Well done, Jenny!”

Speaking on the notification of her award, Jenny said: “Thank you so much for this award! I am really happy that my colleagues nominated me, and to be named the winner feels incredible. I’ve worked at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service since 2003. In that time, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many brilliant teammates. Although we don’t do this job for the awards, it really does feel great to have been recognised in this way. Thank you again.”

About Women in the Fire Service

Women in the Fire Service UK is a not-for-profit organisation who work in partnership with its member services to advance equality in the sector.

WFS Vice-Chair, Caroline Anderson QFSM, said: “The bright light award goes to Jenny for being the beacon of what all fire and rescues stand for—she always goes over and above to help people in any way she can, promoting our values at every opportunity.”

Category sponsors of the Bright Light Award were Serve and Protect Credit Union. Serve + Protect, said: "It gives us great pleasure to sponsor the Bright Light Award, for someone who clearly lights the way for many others within her industry. Jenny’s hard work and determination to support her colleagues with the promotion of training and development, and her evident passion for progression clearly demonstrates how worthy she is of this award."

Winners and runners-up receive prizes, as well as an invitation to attend a special award ceremony in June.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

Nathalie Holden, Marketing & Communications Officer, WFS

(Mobile) 07522353846 / (Email) nathalie@wfs.org.uk

There were a total of sixty nominations across five categories from twenty-five Fire Services.

The Women in the Fire Service Awards opened to entries in November 2021 and closed on 15th March 2022. The Award Ceremony takes place at The Fire Service College on Friday 10th June 2022.

Women in the Fire Service UK is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation which exists to advance equality, addressing gender imbalance in the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS). Women are vastly underrepresented in firefighting. Government figures (2021) show just 7.5% of firefighters in England are women.