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A Few Words About Us...

Gresham (SMS) Ltd is an established and highly respected specialist Fire and Life Safety consultancy company.

Founded by Sir Ken Knight CBE QFSM and Stephen Neville OBE, in 2015, they have guided and grown Gresham to become one of the most experienced and respected fire and life safety consultancy companies in the UK.

We specialise in working with property development companies, managing agents and facility management companies to develop and maintain fire strategies and fire safety systems and processes. In providing experienced, competent and trained fire safety personnel, we aim to support our clients with invaluable knowledge and advice gained through many years of hands-on experience in firefighting and fire risk management.

Whether our clients require an initial one-day fire safety audit or a full fire risk assessment, we provide the support and services to survey and provide recommendations where considered necessary. We don't just point out non-conformities - we discuss opportunities for process improvement and set out and agree easy to follow action plans.

Where required, we work alongside our clients “duty holder” to train and mentor them on operating the correct procedural fire safety management systems in order to implement fire industry best practices.

Under the leadership of our Chairman Sir Ken Knight; London's former Fire Commissioner and the Government's Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser; Gresham (SMS) Ltd have gained an enviable reputation for forging ethical and total integrity partnerships with our clients.

In addition to our fire safety expertise, Gresham is engaged to provide professional input to public and private sector organisational change. Sir Ken is recognised world-wide for delivering keynote conference speeches in the UK and oversees.

Our intention is not to be the largest fire safety consultancy in the UK. We do however aim to be the preferred partner of choice for all of our wide-ranging client base.

Sir Ken Knight CBE QFSM DL

With over 5 decades of experience in fire and rescue, organisational change and professional advice, Sir Ken Knight is a highly respected and influential throughout the sector.

His fire service career included; Chief Fire Officer of Dorset and West Midlands Fire Services and London's Fire Commissioner following which he was appointed as the Government’s Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser.

Sir Ken has lead a number of organisational reviews of both the public and private sector and continues to share his experience on the international stage.

Steve Neville OBE

Starting with 10 years as a Fire & Security Property Surveyor , Steve has over 50 years of experience of business development working in senior managerial positions for prestige companies in England, Holland and America. Recognising the future impact of emerging technology on the Fire and Security industry, he joined a national security alarm installer as their UK Insurance and Police liaison manager and became a regular and popular speaker throughout the 1980’s at police academies, Insurance seminars and Lloyds of London. Steve has been at the forefront of business development with UK national retail and commercial companies for 30 years. He was honoured with an OBE for his Charitable services to the Fire & Security Industry in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Joining the London Fire Brigade in 1979 Marcus has been in the Fire Rescue and Fire Safety industry for 40 years. Working his way up the ranks Marcus Retired from the London Fire Brigade as a Station Manager, after which he continued to work closely with the Brigade through the UK's largest Independent fire safety training organisation.

Marcus was a Competency Lead/Training Manager/ Facilitator of Fire Service Incident Management Training.

With all of this expericence and knowledge he is an asset to Gresham SMS in providing specialist advice and training.

Marcus Phillips

After joining the London Fire Brigade in 1978 Chris has over 4 decades of experience in the Fire  rescue and Fire Safety industry. Expanding his knowledge at the Fire Service College and becoming a Graduate of the institution of Fire Engineers in 1986 he gained many qualifications in the field including a Degree in Fire Saftey Engineering and Management. The roles he has taken since then include but are not limited to:

- Senior Manager in LFB Fire Safety Policy Division

- Strategic role as Head of Risk Management  

- Fire Safety enforcement in Norfolk Fire Service.

He was seconded to the Office of the Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor in UK Central Government, in which he advised Government officials and outside organisations on Fire Safety strategies. Chris was awarded the Queens Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service in 2013.

Christopher Boulton QFSM MIFireE

Meet Our Team...

During his 30 year career in the London Fire Brigade Richard has undertaken many roles and gained invaluable experience and specialist knowledge in Fire and Health and Safety. These roles in the LFB included:

- Training Manager

- Strategic Risk Manager

- Station Commander

- Borough Commander

- Senior Accident Investigator

Richard was responsible for developing the London Safety Plan for the LFB; this included the Integrated Risk Management Plan for London implementing the Mayor’s initiatives. Richard was also responsible for developing Resilience and Recovery Plans including pandemic flu planning. He represented LFB on the Pan London Resilience Boards and was also the Brigade lead for Health and Safety and Road Safety.

Richard is a Health, Safety and Contingency Advisor to St. Johns Ambulance; an Honorary Member of the Asian Fire Services Association, for community safety work promoting fire safety and careers within the LFB. Richard is also a member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and The Association of Fire Safety Managers.

Richard Claydon