A great way for any business to support the community

Johnsons Coaches, based in Henley-in-Arden, have been doing all they can to support Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service for almost half a
century.

Ever since Peter and John Johnson, third generation of the family which founded the business in 1909, came on board in the late 1970s, staff have been not only allowed, but encouraged to become retained firefighters.

And when asked why, as a business, they take such a proactive approach, operational director Peter Johnson's reaction is a quizzical: "Why wouldn't we?"

"I don't think there was ever a conscious decision to allow our staff to become retained firefighters," said Peter. "It's such an obvious thing to do.

"We all know what a brilliant job the Fire and Rescue Service does and this is a great way to support them.

"I think we have had retained firefighters on the staff ever since I came on board. The depot was only about 400 yards from the fire station so it couldn't have been easier for our employees to get to there - and it's just grown from there.

"We are a community provider. We don't see ourselves as a bus or coach operator, we are part of the community and, as such, anything we can do as members of that community to support it, we will."

Two of Johnsons' mechanics are currently retained firefighters, though for the vast majority of their time in the workplace, nobody would know. The interference of their firefighting duties into their working days is minimal, confined only to emergencies.

"There are occasions when people are called away," said Peter. "But you handle it. You know the situation so are always aware of that possibility and have a contingency plan.

"It's not as though they are called away every five minutes. And when they do get the call, you know it's an emergency. Somebody badly needs their help.

"Retained firefighters give so much commitment to what they do, doing all their training out of work time and during holidays, the least we can do is support them."

Johnsons Coaches' ongoing support was recently recognised by the presentation of a Community Support Award at Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service’s annual awards ceremony.

It is a connection, Peter insists, which will run and run.
"I would encourage any business to encourage their employees to consider becoming retained firefighters," he said. "There are no disadvantages - and everybody benefits."

If you are interested as an employer in releasing staff to become retained firefighters, further information can be found at:http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/beextraordinary.