Neil Griffiths
Edgmond, Newport,Shropshire
Summary
Accomplished professional senior leader with a strong background in strategic thinking, risk management, and project management.
Excellent public speaking skills, coupled with expertise in report writing. Adept at driving projects to successful completion and managing risks effectively. Working across political boundaries leveraging a range of skills to contribute to organisational success and growth.
Serving 24 years in the UK Fire and Rescue Service with broad skills in emergency response, fire safety, and team leadership. Played key roles in reducing incident response times and improving safety protocols. Known for calm decision-making under pressure and strong communication abilities, which have greatly enhanced team efficiency, effectiveness and public safety.
A resilient professional with strong problem-solving abilities, coupled with excellent communication skills and keen sense of teamwork. Brings background in emergency response and safety regulations demonstrating calm decision-making and leadership in high-pressure situations. Committed to safeguarding organisations, communities and ensuring swift, effective response to emergencies.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Assistant Chief Fire Officer
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
Winsford, Cheshire
12.2023 - 04.2025
- Experienced strategic leader with proven track record
- Managing a multi million pound budget
- Consistently improving performance and external inspectorate grading
- Delivering and embedding organisational change
- Managing successful projects
- Collaborating with multi agency partners to improve community safety
- Working closely with local political leaders across boundaries
- Chairing strategic meetings both internal and multi agency
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Service Delivery
- Operational and Command Training and Assessment
- Policy and Planning
- Organisational Development through Human Resources and Training
Head of Service Delivery
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
Winsford, Cheshire
06.2019 - 12.2023
- Established effective management of 28 fire stations and approximately 650 operational and non operational staff who support service delivery
- Delivered a range of successful projects to support delivery of the organisational Risk Management plan
- Improved culture within organisation, particularly around staff engagement whilst promoting safe, healthy workforce
- Provided Gold level response to major operational incidents working closely with multi agency Local Resilience Forum partners
Group Manager
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
Shrewsbury, Telford, Shropshire
08.2000 - 06.2019
- Led a range of teams to deliver effective Prevention, Protection and operational Response to communities of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.
- Safeguarded the most vulnerable adults and children in local communities from the risk of fire through robust, data led targeted safety visits to domestic properties and schools.
- Embedded ”Make Every Contact Count” culture across Service to make communities safer through education and training all staff.
- Prioritised protection of commercial and public premises through effective education and enforcement of fire safety legislation.
- Established robust and effective working relationship with Local Resilience Forum partners from multi agencies across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin including Local Authorities, Health, Police and Ambulance Services.
Education
Level 7 - Executive Leadership
University of Warwick
Coventry 02/2023 - 12/2023
Master of Business Administration - Business Administration
Staffordshire University
Stoke-on-Trent 09/2018 - 09/2021
Level 7 - Strategic Leadership and Management
Edexcel
Warwick 02/2015 - 04/2016
Skills
- Strategic thinking
- Community safety
- Risk management
- Excellent communication
- Public speaking
- Project management
- Report writing
Affiliations
- Maintaining fitness through regular gym, running, cycling and swimming as well as walking with my family and our dog. Keen interest in endurance sports and have completed numerous marathons, the three peaks challenge and cycled from Lands End to John O Groats. Entered first Ironman event in June 2026.
Certification
- CBRN Strategic Commander
- Multi agency Gold Incident Commander (MAGIC)
- National Inter agency Liaison Officer (NILO)
- Hazardous Materials Advisor
- Fire investigation Officer
- Full clean driving licence
- Flood and Water Incident Manager
- SwiftWater Rescue Power Boat instructor
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Assistant Chief Fire Officer
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
12.2023 - 04.2025
Head of Service Delivery
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
06.2019 - 12.2023
Group Manager
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
08.2000 - 06.2019
Level 7 - Executive Leadership
University of Warwick
02/2023 - 12/2023
Master of Business Administration - Business Administration
Staffordshire University
09/2018 - 09/2021
Level 7 - Strategic Leadership and Management
Edexcel
02/2015 - 04/2016