News

We are thrilled to announce our arrival on the National Fire Chief’s Council (NFCC) national firefighting appliance framework, becoming the newest emergency vehicle manufacturer available to the UK’s world-class fire and rescue services.

Following an exceptionally robust and thorough tender process managed by Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, Venari scored highly throughout all aspects of the tender process from processes, capability, skillset and environmental sustainability. We now look forward to providing much needed competition in quality, value for money and innovation for each fire service’s specific requirements.

Venari Group CEO, Oliver North, commented on the framework placement: “Venari was initially set up with the main intention of being the Group’s firefighting division whilst subsidiary company, O&H Vehicle Technology, maintained its incredible comeback from ‘life support machine’ to market leader status in the ambulance sector.

“When Covid came along, however, it obviously delayed our plans immensely, but our truly incredible team stepped up to achieve more than we ever thought possible in manufacturing mobile Covid test centres, vaccination vehicles, small firefighting appliances, and – more recently – armoured ambulances for Ukraine. All of which have contributed hugely to national efforts in varying crises. Now, later than planned, we’re ten times the company we ever could’ve been at only effectively two years old, whilst boasting some of the firefighting industry’s most experienced engineers, builders and mechanics.

“We fully intend on using every last ounce of passion, capability and experience to provide our world-class fire and rescue services with the best quality of firefighting appliance for what they need to operate efficiently and safely in their ever-evolving roles.”

A fleet of demonstration vehicles is now due to go into build at Venari’s West Yorkshire headquarters, to demonstrate the quality in manufacture.

Venari’s firefighting division sales manager, John Purdy, added: “Since joining Venari at its inception, we’ve been preparing for, and looking forward to, our involvement in this framework. When Covid delayed the framework and our plans, in any other company I’d have been concerned, but Venari always prove they’re made of sterner stuff; they don’t merely survive through the tough times, but more importantly – they flourish in them. I really do believe that Venari’s exceptional achievements over the past two years prove to our amazing Brigades that we’re here, and we’re ready!”

We now look forward to hosting all affiliated fire and rescue services to introduce our teams and show our exceptional capability.