Vulcan celebrates 25th anniversary

In 2018 Graham Holloway, MD of Vulcan Fire Training, is celebrating his 25th year in running his fire safety training and consultancy business.

Graham served in the London Fire Brigade through all ranks, from Fireman to Divisional Officer, after joining as a Junior Fireman under a scheme which ran at the time back in the 1960’s.  His working career has been dedicated to promoting fire safety and empowering those responsible to ensure the safety and wellbeing of personnel and to limit the risk of fires occurring in premises in all sectors.

His specialist experience was accrued in fire operations, fire safety, research and project work, writing internal and external training courses, carrying out fire investigations, fire station and divisional command, human resources management, organising national exhibitions, writing fire prevention leaflets, water officer and publishing technical books.

Graham left the Brigade in 1986 to join the Property Services Agency based in Cambridge as Fire Adviser to the United States Air Force in Europe Air Bases in England. He offered fire precaution advice and certification for fire and building control to UK and USA NFPA fire standards on new building work or alterations to existing buildings.  

In 1990 he joined the Saudi Arabian Oil Company in Dhahran as Battalion Chief (Training), in the Fire Department, managing, lecturing and rewriting company fire officer courses.  He also researched, developed and wrote fire related courses including Chemical Weapon Attack procedures, Fire Prevention, Captain and Recruits Course, Marine Fire-fighting and The Institution of Fire Engineers Preliminary Certificate handbook and training course (American Terminology/Standards).  

He researched and developed the Aramco Job Training Standard for Fire Captains, developed and presented hospital fire training presentations for more than 4,000 hospital staff and was responsible for time-tabling of courses.

Graham returned to the UK in 1993 and formed Four Cedars Safety writing and lecturing fire safety courses, providing safety management audits and advice on a national scale to industry and commerce.  He was a fire safety training consultant for a range of health and safety training providers, developing a fire safety portfolio over the years accredited by the IFE, IFSM and IFPO.

In 2005 Vulcan Fire Training was set up as a limited company.  By then Graham’s wife Pauline took over the administration duties and having worked on behalf of large health and safety training organisations for over 12 years Vulcan Fire Training was set up and promoted as a brand.  It took a few years to develop its client base but having developed and run a full portfolio of fire safety course from practical use of fire extinguishers to the Fire Manager Advanced Diploma the company has gone from strength to strength.

With long standing qualified trainers and efficient and friendly support staff Vulcan has been able to maintain a family feel to the company offering a personal service.  The consultants are now working more and more on fire risk assessment consultancy in medium to large businesses which has led to an expansion in the workforce.  

Vulcan was the first training company to become an Approved Training Centre with the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) who accredit and approve their full fire portfolio of training courses.  The Fire Manager Certificate and Fire Manager Advanced Diploma are also recognised by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and approved by the British Fire Consortium as part of their progressive training for members.  In 2006 the MOD approve Vulcan to run its higher level courses under its Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme for those leaving the forces.

Graham would like to thank all those customers and delegates who have supported Vulcan’s efforts over the years by recommending our training and services and we look forward to 2018 and beyond in providing the highest standard of training and support.