Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Websites
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic

Andrew Wilkinson

Heaton Moor,United Kingdom

Summary

Fire protection manager and fire safety engineer with extensive experience regulating complex and high-risk buildings, including high-rise residential, hospitals, arenas, and COMAH sites. Holder of a First-Class BEng (Hons) in Fire Engineering (Best Dissertation award, presented at IFE Graduate Lecture; publication pending). Specialist in reviewing and regulating fire strategies, FRAEW/EWS1 assessments, and PAS 9980 appraisals to ensure compliance with the Fire Safety legislation and functional requirements of Building Regulations. Experienced in using and applying technical guidance and standards relevant to fire safety, including codes of practice, British Standards, Approved Documents, and sector-specific frameworks.

Proven ability at applying engineering principles and regulatory powers to deliver proportionate, risk-based outcomes that protect residents while ensuring practicality for building owners and operators. An experienced operational fire officer attending a range of emergency incidents with practical understanding of fire behaviour, leading teams to save life and property in dynamic circumstances.

Overview

10
10
years of professional experience
2022
2022
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Fire Protection Manager

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
Manchester, Greater Manchester
01.2023 - 08.2025
  • Lead the Higher Risk Fire Safety Team, managing 10 staff delivering audits, enforcement, and consultations.
  • Oversee regulation of HRRBs, hospitals, care homes, arenas, and COMAH sites.
  • Implement the Fire Safety (England) Regulations, contacting ~700 high-rise buildings, collating responses, identifying risks, and enforcing compliance.
  • Coordinate organisational responses to HSE safety case consultations and Gateway 2 remediation projects.
  • Conduct safety case reviews and regulatory consultations under the new Building Safety Regime.
  • Establish business engagement, cross-government collaboration, and multidisciplinary working with HSE, housing providers, and engineers.

Fire Safety Officer / Watch Manager

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
Manchester, Greater Manchester
01.2016 - 01.2023
  • Audited and enforced fire safety in complex premises, providing fire engineering input and consultancy to building owners, designers, and regulators.
  • Reviewed fire strategies, engineering reports, and post-construction inspections to ensure compliance.
  • Directed 20+ firefighters during incidents, exercising incident command.
  • Delivered CPD training on fire safety and legislation to colleagues and partner organisations.
  • Developed policy, wrote legal documents, and provided technical fire safety advice to senior officers.

Education

BEng (Hons) - Fire Engineering

University of Central Lancashire
Preston
/2021 - /2025

BTEC Level 7 Advanced Professional Certificate - Legal Skills in Investigation

Pearson

Level 4 Diploma - Fire Safety (Fire Inspectors)

SFJ Awards

Level 4 Certificate - Fire Science & Fire Safety

IFE

Level 3 Diploma - Fire Science & Fire Safety

IFE

BA - Science, Society and Media Studies

University of the West of England

Skills

  • Reviewing FRAEW / EWS1 assessments PAS 9980 appraisals
  • Fire strategies — regulatory review
  • Gateway 2 cladding remediation consultations
  • Safety case reviews under Building Safety Regime
  • Regulatory enforcement & legal case preparation
  • Public engagement & CPD delivery
  • Multi-agency & cross-sector collaboration

Soft skills

  • Analytical and problem solving
  • Critical and strategic thinking
  • Project management
  • Decision making
  • Report writing
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Competent computer and IT usage
  • Ability to work independently, lead and work within team settings

Websites

Accomplishments

  • Award-winning engineer: Achieved Best Dissertation (UCLan Fire Engineering, 2022), presented research at the IFE Graduate Lecture, with summary scheduled for IFE Magazine.
  • Regulatory leadership: Coordinated 140 in-occupation safety case reviews in 2024/25, with ~150 projected for 2025/26, ensuring safer outcomes for residents across Greater Manchester.
  • High-profile interventions: Led enforcement on unsafe high-rise buildings; applied engineering principles to reduce need for disruptive full decants, protecting residents while maintaining public safety.
  • Team leadership: Managed Higher Risk Fire Safety Team (10 staff), delivering inspections, consultations, and enforcement across HRRBs, hospitals, care homes, arenas, and COMAH sites.
  • Operational impact: Oversaw 151 interim measures visits (6 months), triaged 234 post-incident cases, 183 intelligence-led reviews, and 266 fire safety support requests (Apr 2024).
  • Task force role: Contributed to Greater Manchester High Rise Task Force, delivering High Rise Days of Action, CPD sessions, and presentations on the Fire Safety Act, Regulations, PAS 9980, and evacuation guidance.

Affiliations

  • Graduate Member, Institution of Fire Engineers (GIFireE)
  • Member, Greater Manchester High Rise Task Force

Timeline

Fire Protection Manager

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
01.2023 - 08.2025

Fire Safety Officer / Watch Manager

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
01.2016 - 01.2023

Level 4 Diploma - Fire Safety (Fire Inspectors)

SFJ Awards

Level 4 Certificate - Fire Science & Fire Safety

IFE

Level 3 Diploma - Fire Science & Fire Safety

IFE

BA - Science, Society and Media Studies

University of the West of England

BEng (Hons) - Fire Engineering

University of Central Lancashire
/2021 - /2025

BTEC Level 7 Advanced Professional Certificate - Legal Skills in Investigation

Pearson
Andrew Wilkinson