Dorset and Wiltshire - when two become one...

1 April 2016 saw the dawn of a new era in the counties of Dorset and Wiltshire, as two fire and rescue services combined to become one organisation.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service boasts 50 fire stations, 73 fire engines and over 1,000 full-time and on-call firefighters, serving over 1.45 million residents in the local authority areas of Bournemouth, Dorset, Poole, Swindon and Wiltshire.

The combination journey started in December 2013, when the two constituent Fire Authorities agreed to develop a business case for joining forces. Following consultation with staff, the public and stakeholders in the summer of 2014, both Authorities met in November 2014 and agreed unanimously to combine.

Amongst the communication challenges over this time were:

• Maintaining status quo for both Dorset FRS and Wiltshire FRS until 31 March 2016.
• Keeping staff informed and engaged throughout the process – achieved through monthly newsletters, a dedicated staff information website, regular briefings for staff and managers, CFO video messages and station visits.
• Keeping partners and external stakeholders informed and engaged throughout the process – achieved through attendances at community and local authority meetings, regular website updates, media releases and targeted letters from the CFO.
• Developing a new website to go live on 1 April 2016, retaining the best content from the old websites but also having a fresh new look to reflect the new branding.
• Rolling out the new branding onto all fleet, all premises, new uniforms, ID cards and stationery – staff had a significant influence on the chosen brand and also uniforms, following an extensive staff survey.
• Changing existing social media accounts to reflect the new Service
• Developing new internal communications, based on the findings of a staff survey, with a new monthly e-magazine due to launch in July (staff have been asked to suggest names).
  
  And we made it! The new Service boasts a new media and communications team, with investment made in additional staff and a wider remit. We are:
• Vikki Shearing – Head of Information and Communications
• Louise Knox – Media and Communications Manager
• Emily Cheeseman – Senior Communications Officer
• Jackie Greene – Media Administrator (Events)
• To be appointed – Media Administrator (Digital)
  
  You can contact any of us by email – firstname.surname@dwfire.org.ukOur new communications channels are:
  
  
• Website – www.dwfire.org.uk
• Facebook – www.facebook.com/DWFire
• Twitter – www.twitter.com/DWFireRescue or @DWFireRescue