Real World Group at Emergency Services Show 2025: Leadership & Culture in Fire – Learning from the Inside Out

We’re delighted to be returning to the Emergency Services Show 2025, where Real World Group will not only be exhibiting at Stand 5/A234 but also joining two of our valued clients on stage for what promises to be an impactful and practical panel discussion.

 Session Details

Leadership and Culture in Fire: Learning from the Inside Out

📅 Wednesday 18th September 2025

🕒 14:00 – 14:45

📍 People & Skills Stage

Why this session matters

In recent years, the Fire & Rescue sector has found itself under increasing pressure to address long-standing leadership and cultural challenges. Our session will take the conversation beyond frameworks and theory, and instead focus on the real-world experiences of those leading cultural transformation from within.

Together, we’ll explore:

• How behavioural-based leadership development is shaping culture from the top down and the bottom up
• What authentic, values-driven change looks like in operational environments
• The practical tools and leadership behaviours that are driving lasting impact

Meet the speakers:

Kay Shelley

Head of Learning and Development, Essex County Fire & Rescue Service

Kay brings a wealth of experience in creating leadership development strategies that go beyond compliance to truly engage and support people. Essex FRS’s bold cultural journey has been grounded in learning, reflection, and commitment to behavioural change.

Colin Wright

Group Manager for Learning and Development, Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service

Colin is leading on embedding values-based leadership in Cumbria FRS, with a focus on increasing psychological safety, accountability and inclusion across all levels. His perspective highlights the power of empowering managers to lead culture day-to-day.

Juliette Alban-Metcalfe

CEO, Real World Group

Juliette is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist, global speaker, and leadership expert whose research and work have shaped how public sector organisations approach evidence-based, engaging leadership. She brings insight into the tools and diagnostics that are helping fire services take a measurable, strategic approach to culture change.

Come and visit us: Stand 5/A234

Alongside our session, we’ll be exhibiting at Stand 5/A234, where you can:

• Learn more about our FRS360 feedback tool, tailored for every level of leadership
• See a demo of our Culture Survey
• Learn more about our Inclusive Leadership Assessments for individuals, Teams and Executive Teams for the Emergency Services

Discover how we’re working with emergency services to build trust, inclusion, and sustainable leadership at every level

Whether you’re in HR, OD, learning and development or a  leader, we’d love to explore how we can support your culture and leadership ambitions.

We look forward to seeing you there!

You can find out more about the session here:  Leadership and culture in fire: learning from the inside out – The Emergency Services Show 2025

To find out more about how we have helped and supported other Fire & Rescue Services please contact us at: hello@realworld-group.com