Principal Fire Risk Assessor in Preston

NPG Fire Safety Ltd is appointing a Principal Fire Risk Assessor to play a key role in the next phase of growth of our fire safety consultancy. This is a senior technical position within a highly accredited, independent fire and security business built on three core values: Competency, Integrity, Value. Our reputation is built on quality, proportionate judgement, and reasoned pragmatism. This role will suit an experienced fire risk assessor who takes professional pride in their work, pays close attention to detail, and is comfortable having their assessments technically challenged in an environment where standards are intentionally high and consistently maintained. It is intended for assessors who are comfortable operating at a principal level, taking ownership of technical decisions and contributing to the development of others.

About NPG Fire Safety Ltd: NPG Fire Safety Ltd is a multi-disciplined fire and security business with extensive third-party accreditation across both consultancy and the full scope of system delivery, including:

• BAFE SP205 – Life Safety Fire Risk Assessment
• BAFE SP203-1 – Fire Detection & Alarm Systems
• BAFE SP203-4 – Emergency Lighting Systems
• BAFE SP101 – Portable Fire Extinguishers
• NACOSS Gold – CCTV, Intruder Alarms & Access Control

We are one of two companies in the UK fire sector holding this breadth of accreditation across both consultancy and delivery. This allows us to provide technically aligned, end-to-end fire safety support without compromising quality or competence.

The Role: The Principal Fire Risk Assessor will be responsible for delivering high-quality fire risk assessments across a varied portfolio of commercial and residential premises, while also supporting the development of junior assessors as the consultancy grows, including active mentoring and technical guidance as part of the role. The role is deliberately structured to be sustainable, credible, and commercially realistic, rather than reactive or volume-driven. A typical working pattern is designed around:

• Two days per week site-based auditing
• Two days per week focused report writing and technical review
• One flexible day for spillover, complex write-ups, mentoring, validation input, or professional development

This structure assumes strong personal organisation, sound technical judgement, and the ability to manage a meaningful workload independently.

Key Responsibilities:

• Undertake fire risk assessments across a broad range of premises, including complex and higher-risk buildings
• Produce clear, accurate, and well-reasoned fire risk assessment reports that are suitable and sufficient
• Apply legislation, guidance, and recognised standards proportionately and defensibly
• Communicate findings clearly to clients and support them in understanding their duties
• Operate within our BAFE SP205 scheme and ISO 9001 management system alongside another senior assessor and validator
• Support, mentor, and technically guide junior and trainee assessors
• Contribute to the continual improvement of internal processes, templates, and methodology
• Engage constructively with internal technical review and validation processes
• Maintain CPD and keep abreast of industry changes

Technical Standards: All reports produced in this role will be subject to review and validation, and the successful candidate is expected to engage constructively with that process. Reports are expected to be:

• Logical
• Evidence-based
• Proportionate to risk
• Clearly justified where professional judgement is applied
• Grammatically sound and professionally presented

This is our commitment to maintaining a consistently high technical standard across the business. The successful candidate will be confident defending their assessments and open to technical challenge where appropriate. Remuneration progression is directly linked to consistency of technical quality, reliability of output, and the ability to operate independently within a commercially realistic workload.

What We Are Looking For:

Essential:

• 5+ years of proven experience delivering fire risk assessments independently, including complex and higher-risk premises
• A recognised Level 4 fire risk assessment qualification (or equivalent demonstrable competence)
• Strong working knowledge of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, associated guidance, and current industry standards
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail
• Professional integrity and sound judgement
• Full UK driving licence and right to work in the UK

Desirable:

• Level 5 fire engineering diploma or equivalent
• Experience in developing fire strategies, Regulation 38 submissions and preliminary fire risk assessments
• Registration on a recognised fire risk assessor register (e.g. NAFRAR – Advanced Level)
• Experience mentoring or supporting junior assessors
• Based in the North West

What We Offer:

• Salary starting from £75,000 per annum, dependent on experience and demonstrated technical competence
• Company car
• Hybrid and remote working flexibility
• 24 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• 5% employer pension contribution
• Structured progression toward future senior roles, including Validator and Head of Consultancy
• A business culture that values quality, realism, and professionalism

This role is designed to appeal to experienced assessors, including those currently operating independently, who are seeking long-term professional stability without compromising technical standards or autonomy of judgement.

Who This Role Is (and Is Not) For:

This role is well-suited to an assessor who:

• Wants to produce work they are comfortable standing behind
• Values technical credibility over speed for its own sake
• Is confident exercising and justifying professional judgement
• Wants a long-term role within a growing, well-run consultancy

It is not suited to assessors who:

• Rely heavily on templates without understanding the underlying principles
• Are uncomfortable with technical scrutiny or challenge
• Prefer minimal engagement with report quality or detail

Interested? If you are looking for a senior consultancy role with genuine responsibility, clear expectations, and long-term progression, we would welcome an application. All applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their technical competence as part of the recruitment process, including a structured technical assessment and discussion of professional judgement at interview stage.