WFP Fire & Security

15/10/2026

I went along to Brooklands to support a friend who was showing his Mk2 Ford Es**rt RS1800 last Sunday.

He rallied it years ago, then when he retired, he took it apart and stored it for 20 years… and then about 18 months ago, he started rebuilding it. We’re talking the whole lot, including the engine.

There were plenty of challenges along the way, but with a lot of engineering knowledge, practical skill and determination, he brought it back to life.

There were demonstration laps around the Mercedes-Benz World Circuit and a short hill climb. I went along expecting just to watch, but then he asked if I wanted to ride along…

We did two short runs and we even won!

At the top, he couldn’t resist a little drift around the corner, just like old times. I climbed out absolutely buzzing, in fact, I was physically shaking from the adrenaline.

That unassuming old Es**rt turned out to be a proper wolf in sheep’s clothing, and it got me thinking about how often we assume that older equipment just needs replacing.

His Es**rt sat in pieces for 20 years, yet with the right engineering know-how and skill, and care, it’s back doing something pretty special.

And that’s where I see a connection with what we do at WFP Fire & Security - because good engineering isn’t just about replacing things when they stop working.

It’s about understanding how they work, pinpointing what’s wrong, and then having the practical skills to put it right.

We regularly come across fire and security systems that are getting older, and sometimes the immediate recommendation is to replace. But is that always strictly necessary? Not necessarily.

Our approach is to understand what’s there, assess its condition and then establish whether it can continue doing its job safely and reliably. Sometimes a repair or maybe a replacement component is all that’s needed, while other times it might be that a new system is the right answer.

Replace when needed, not before, that’s our philosophy.

Brooklands was a blast and I certainly wasn’t expecting to climb out of that Es**rt shaking with adrenaline…

When was the last time something completely caught you off guard in a good way?

01/10/2026

Last weekend was my Dad’s 84th birthday. We went out for one of his favourite meals (steak and chips, if you’re asking) and,
sitting there with Mum and Dad, I found myself thinking how lucky I am.

They’re both in their 80s, both still very active, and I’m fortunate enough to still be able to sit around a table with them, celebrate birthdays and, as it turns out, receive the occasional bit of business advice.

Because somewhere in the conversation, Mum carefully mentioned something she’d noticed about WFP. She’d received an email from our Service Desk and said that, while there was absolutely nothing wrong with the email itself, the way it appeared in her inbox felt a
little impersonal.

It simply came from “Service Desk”.

“Why doesn’t it say WFP Service Desk?” she asked.

A tiny thing.

And probably something that we would never have noticed internally because we see it every day.
But I realised she had a point, so we changed it. It wasn’t a complaint. Nothing had gone wrong. It was simply someone external
looking at our business from the outside and noticing a small thing that we could do better.

We can spend a lot of time in business looking for the BIG improvements: new systems, new processes, new technology and new ways of doing things.

But sometimes achieving improvement is simpler than that – it’s listening when somebody takes the time to tell you how something feels from their side of the fence, and then taking action.

At WFP, we talk a lot about understanding our customers. Usually that’s in relation to their fire and security systems, but perhaps it applies equally to the little things too.

So, thank you Mum.

Dad got his birthday meal. I got some free business consultancy.

And WFP got a little bit better.

Paul

P.S. We’re always happy to listen to feedback that could make the service we offer you better. So if there’s something you think we could improve, however small, just let us know... we're listening.

25/09/2026

I was talking to someone other day (a property risk engineer if you’re asking), when he threw in a curveball question:

“Are you registered on RedBook Live?”

For those uninitiated (i.e. most people), RedBook Live is the directory used to list companies, products and services certificated by the Loss Prevention Certification Board, or LPCB.
For fire detection and alarm companies, the relevant certification scheme is LPS 1014.

My answer?

No, we’re not registered on RedBook Live. And it’s been years since anyone asked me that question.

But before you go thinking that we can’t be trusted with your alarm, allow me to explain.

At WFP, we’ve followed the BAFE SP203-1 route.

LPS 1014 and BAFE SP203-1 are different schemes, but there is considerable crossover because both assess companies undertaking fire detection and alarm work and both use recognised standards, including BS 5839-1.

The BAFE SP203-1 route is modular, and means we’re independently assessed on:

• Design
• Installation
• Commissioning and handover
• Maintenance

We have never had a commercial reason to operate under both certification schemes. Most customers and specifications we encounter ask for BAFE SP203-1, and we can absolutely verify that we meet those standards.

There’s a broader point though, and that’s that a badge check should be the start of the journey, not the end.

Certification is clearly important, and either the BAFE SP203-1 or LPS 1014 tell you that a company has been assessed to the level you need.

What it doesn’t tell you is anything about that company’s culture, the quality of its people or what it will be like to (or whether you can) rely on them for the next ten or twenty years.

So, in addition to the badge, I’d recommend checking:

• Is the certification current and does its scope cover the work you require?
• Does the company have suitable insurance?
• Are their engineers and designers properly trained?
• Can they maintain and repair the equipment in the long term?
• Is the system open and supportable, or will you be tied to one supplier?
• What do their customers say?
• Will they investigate and repair before automatically recommending replacement?

Get good answers to those questions, in addition to the certification, and you give yourself the best chance of making the right decision at the first time of asking.

And if you want to ask me any of them, fire away!

Paul

13/07/2026

Just a quick heads up- Tuesday 14th July, in the morning, everyone in the WFP office team are on training. Needless to say, they are all hugely excited about spending the morning in training... 😬

For completeness, here's the official announcement from our Managing Director:

On Tuesday 14th July, our office staff will be attending training from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

During this period, phone lines and emails will be monitored by a limited team, and response times may be delayed.

If you are contacting us regarding an urgent matter. Please call us directly on Phone: 01277 622932

We thank you for your patience and understanding.

Scott Wright
Managing Director
WFP

PS - If you could avoid having a fire alarm or security system emergency while we're in training, we'd all appreciate it... 😇 - If you do, don't worry, just give us a call and we'll get it sorted.

PPS - The training is on our new service management system, Joblogic. It's a significant investment that will help us support our clients even more efficiently in the months and years ahead.

08/07/2026

JOB FILLED!

About the job

Fire & Security Design Estimator

📍 Stock, Essex | Full-time | Office based with site visits

We're looking for someone who combines technical excellence with commercial instinct.

Someone who enjoys understanding buildings, designing compliant solutions, producing accurate quotations and winning work. They care about doing things properly, work at pace, take pride in their output and enjoy being part of a close-knit team that's ambitious, supportive and enjoys what it does.

You know that great fire and security systems aren't designed by software. They're designed by people who understand buildings.

If you're the sort of person who enjoys walking around a building, understanding how it works, identifying risks and producing practical, compliant solutions that genuinely meet a client's needs, we'd like to talk to you.

At WFP Fire & Security, we're trusted to solve problems that others struggle with.

We don't simply replace systems because it's easier. We take the time to understand what our clients are trying to achieve and design solutions that make the very best use of their investment in safety and security.

Our clients value honest advice, technical expertise and long-term relationships. That's why they stick with us, and that's why we're looking for the right person to join our team.

Every project is different.

One week you could be designing a wireless fire alarm system for a residential tower block. The next you might be upgrading an ageing fire alarm system in a food processing facility, designing CCTV for a logistics warehouse or helping a commercial client modernise their existing fire and security systems.

If variety, technical challenges and building lasting client relationships appeal to you, you'll enjoy working here.

The opportunity

Your primary responsibility will be to survey buildings, design compliant fire and security solutions, produce accurate quotations and help convert those quotations into orders.

This isn't simply an estimating role.

It's about understanding a client's objectives, applying your technical knowledge and producing solutions that clients have confidence in buying.

Technical excellence is essential.

Commercial awareness is equally important.

You'll enjoy presenting your recommendations, answering technical questions and explaining why your solution represents the best value over the lifetime of the system.

And when you've earned the client's confidence, you'll be comfortable asking the most important question:

"Are you happy for us to go ahead?"

What you'll be doing

• Surveying commercial, industrial and residential buildings

• Designing fire alarm systems to BS 5839-1

• Designing domestic fire alarm systems to BS 5839-6

• Producing compliant fire alarm designs and quotations

• Completing battery calculations, loop loading and cable calculations

• Producing wireless radio integrity designs

• Designing CCTV systems, including Operational Requirement documents

• Designing intruder alarm systems, including risk assessments

• Estimating labour, materials and installation costs

• Working closely with our sales consultants, project managers and engineers

• Supporting clients throughout the quotation process

• Securing orders through technical knowledge, professionalism and trusted advice

You'll probably have experience of

• Designing fire alarm systems to BS 5839-1

• Designing domestic fire alarm systems to BS 5839-6

• Apollo XP95 and Discovery

• Hochiki addressable systems

• Advanced MXPro5 fire alarm panels

• Hyfire wireless systems

• CCTV design

• Access control design

• Intruder alarm design

• Producing accurate technical estimates

Experience with other manufacturers is very welcome. We're far more interested in your understanding of good design principles than experience with one particular product range.

FIA qualifications and a commitment to continual professional development are important to us.

The person we're looking for

Your attitude is every bit as important as your technical ability.

You enjoy solving problems rather than taking the easiest option.

You genuinely care about the quality of your work and are proud to put your name to it.

You understand that every quotation represents someone's investment in the safety and security of their people, property and business.

You're commercially aware without ever compromising your professional integrity.

You enjoy helping colleagues, sharing knowledge and contributing to a business that's continually improving.

Most importantly, you care about doing things properly.

Professional qualifications

Ideally, you'll hold the FIA Level 3 Advanced Fire Detection & Alarm Design qualification (or be able to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge and experience), confirming your ability to design fire alarm systems in accordance with BS 5839-1 and the relevant British and European Standards. This is the benchmark qualification we look for in our fire alarm designers.

For our other disciplines, recognised industry qualifications, manufacturer accreditations and demonstrable design experience are equally valued. Experience designing CCTV, Access Control and Intruder Alarm systems, together with accreditation or training from manufacturers such as Hikvision, Avigilon, Orisec, Texecom, Paxton or equivalent commercial systems, would be a distinct advantage.

Why WFP?

We're ambitious, and we're growing.

We're building a business based on technical excellence, trust and long-term relationships with our clients.

You'll work alongside experienced people who enjoy sharing knowledge and supporting each other, in an environment where your ideas are listened to and your contribution genuinely matters.

We expect you to challenge us.

If there's a better way of designing a system, tell us.

If you've found a more efficient installation method, let's hear it.

If you've discovered a product that genuinely improves reliability or reduces our clients' long-term costs, we'll want to know.

We don't recruit people to maintain the status quo.

We recruit people who want to make the business better.

This is a serious role with real responsibility, but it's also an exceptional opportunity.

The fire and security industry continues to grow, and so are we. We're looking for someone who wants to build a long-term career, become a key part of our technical team and help shape the next stage of WFP's journey.

If that sounds like the opportunity you've been waiting for, we'd love to hear from you.

We're not looking for someone to just produce quotations.

We're looking for someone whose designs become the reason clients choose WFP.

JOB FILLED!

06/06/2026

03/06/2026

Most people don’t know how long fire and security systems last – and in fairness, why would you?

But all too often, businesses are told that replacement is the answer before every (or even any) other option has been explored.

At WFP, we’ve always taken a different view because our job isn’t to find reasons to replace equipment, it’s to help you get the maximum value from the systems you've already invested in.

That's why our philosophy is simple:

We understand & fix your systems and we replace when needed, not before.

If something can be fixed and it’s cost-effective to do so (and doesn’t cause more hassle than a new installation), then it’s only logical that we make the necessary repairs.

For us, maintenance isn't just about inspections, certificates and attending faults, it’s about understanding how your systems work. It’s about identifying problems before they become failures, reducing disruption, and it’s about helping you make informed decisions about where and when to spend your budget.

Sometimes we'll recommend an upgrade, sometimes we’ll recommend a replacement, and sometimes we’ll tell you that everything’s functioning as it should and you’ve got another 5 years of life left in your system.

Or maybe more, it all depends on what you need it to do and how often you maintain it (which is where regular maintenance future-proofs you).

We believe the best long-term relationships are built on trust, good advice, and helping clients get the best value from all of their fire and security systems.

That's been our approach from day one, and it's the principle that sits behind every recommendation we make.

Most people don’t know how long fire and security systems last – and in fairness, why would you?

But all too often, businesses are told that replacement is the answer before every (or even any) other option has been explored.

At WFP, we’ve always taken a different view because our job isn’t to find reasons to replace equipment, it’s to help you get the maximum value from the systems you've already invested in.

That's why our philosophy is simple:

We understand & fix your systems and we replace when needed, not before.

If something can be fixed and it’s cost-effective to do so (and doesn’t cause more hassle than a new installation), then it’s only logical that we make the necessary repairs.

For us, maintenance isn't just about inspections, certificates and attending faults, it’s about understanding how your systems work. It’s about identifying problems before they become failures, reducing disruption, and it’s about helping you make informed decisions about where and when to spend your budget.

Sometimes we'll recommend an upgrade, sometimes we’ll recommend a replacement, and sometimes we’ll tell you that everything’s functioning as it should and you’ve got another 5 years of life left in your system.

Or maybe more, it all depends on what you need it to do and how often you maintain it (which is where regular maintenance future-proofs you).

We believe the best long-term relationships are built on trust, good advice, and helping clients get the best value from all of their fire and security systems.

That's been our approach from day one, and it's the principle that sits behind every recommendation we make.

Trust WFP to help you keep your premises safe & legal with maintenance for all things fire, security and electrical. Call 01277 724 653.

16/04/2026

The most valuable people in any business are the ‘doers’ – the people who quietly, without fuss, get the job done with a smile, consistently and reliably.

People are the fabric of any business, and we take that pretty seriously at WFP, which is why I wanted to share some fab news about Tony, who has earned himself a seriously good reputation with us!

A couple of years ago, Tony joined WFP with something you can’t train: the right attitude.

He had a natural aptitude for fire and security systems, a genuine willingness to learn, and, perhaps most tellingly, he chose to take a pay cut to get his foot in the door, which tells you everything about how seriously he takes his craft.

Since then, he’s worked his way through our (unofficially legendary) engineer academy, from essential maintenance to remedial works and full fire alarm installations in live, operational buildings under tight deadlines.

Along the way, he’s completed a wide range of training, including fire systems, safe working practices, IPAF, ECS, Asbestos Cat B, which is all part of our commitment to investing in people who want to improve.

And that investment goes both ways because Tony gives back every single day in every interaction with clients, many of whom ask for him specifically!

Which is exactly why we’ve created a new role within WFP that Tony will be the very first to step into: Project Engineer.

When you work with WFP, you’re trusting us to turn up when we say we will and get the job done properly, minimising disruption while we do it.

It’s the standard we hold ourselves to and Tony embodies that with how dependable, hard-working AND easy to work with he is.

If you ever spot a cape tucked under his hi-viz… you might not be imagining it.

We’re incredibly proud of him and we’re confident that his new role will be one he excels in AND one that benefits all of our clients.

So, we’d like to say a huge congratulations to Tony, it’s a richly deserved promotion!

If you’d like to speak to us about an upcoming project, just hit reply or give us a call on 01277 724 653.

We’re always happy to help.