In safe hands with Apex Fire

CAVAN business Apex Fire Ltd is fifty years in business and continues to grow despite the changing economy.

Headquartered in Moyne- hall Cavan, County Cavan, Apex Fire was founded on June 22, 1973.

The fire safety and security business is part of the broader Moyne Roberts Group, one of Europe’s largest producers of Fire hose reels and portable fire extinguishers. In 2008 Apex Fire joined the Moyne Roberts group and has “never stayed still”, according to financial director Adrian McCabe, despite economic challenges throughout those years.

“I am very proud of the fact that the company in the cur- rent climate cannot only stay in business but continued to grow for fifty years.

“That’s one thing we have done, we’ve grown,” he emphasised.

Apex Fire served all of Ire- land initially with all fire protection needs but branched into the security sector with the group acquisition of ETLSecurity(Electronic Technologies Limited) in July 2021. The firm was awarded the ‘Fire and Security Company of the Year’ in 2020 and 2022, an industry award that recog- nises their commitment to compliance and safety.

“We can cater for all businesses and homes needing these products and services starting at the front door,” explained Managing Director Declan Kelly.

Products and services

Apex Fire provide products, services and training such as security gates, access control, CCTV, fire alarms, emergency lighting, portable and wheeled fire extinguishers, fire safety and awareness training and manual handling among others – a complete protection package for any company premises or family home.

While the team engaged in some good-natured banter about the length of time they worked for the company, a combined 90 plus years, Declan, Adrian, and National Operations Director Cathal Smith, are strictly business when it comes to safety and compliance with regulations.

“The most important value to us is our brand, Trusted Safety Solutions.

“What we’re about with our clients is full compliance for the responsible person,” Declan said.

“A statutory requirement for any business is to appoint a responsible person who, in turn, takes full responsibility for their Fire & Safety regulatory requirements in their own premises, and we at Apex Fire, through a risk assessment, develop and assist in a plan in achieving full compliance.”

The Apex Fire team enter a premises with its assurance of ‘what can we do to make you the client fully compliant for all your Fire & Security requirements?’ in mind. They then complete a written risk assessment of the building and produce a plan to make the business fully compliant in accordance with the most up to date fire safety and security standards and regulatory requirements.

The team at Apex Fire understand the realities of what they do, with Declan emphasising “people’s lives and property are at risk” as well as their livelihoods if their equipment or knowledge and expertise is not up to standard.

“We’re about helping the responsible people achieve compliance with the relevant requirements under the Fire Services Act and the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act. When you’re the last person going in to provide these critical products and services, it’s your responsibility, you left the building that way,” he said, remembering the Stardust fire, which claimed the lives of 48 young people in 1981.

“We’re not about cutting corners, we’re about compliance and doing the job correctly,” assures Declan, who also works and volunteers with the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) (both in Ireland and Europe) developing reviewing and improving related standards for compliance for customers in the area of fire safety.

Not only does Apex Fire ensure its customers are in safe hands, taking care of their 120 employees is also one of the core principles of the business.

“Another important customer is our staff,” said Declan.

Their care in this field is recognised by a gold achievement in the ‘Investors in People’ standard in 2022, an achievement awarded for management and investment in all staff members.

“It’s about planning their career, where they’re going to excel,” he said, explaining people start in one position and could end up in a management position or other senior roles across the company or group.

Adrian emphasised that people who come to the company tend to stay, with some of their employees working in the firm for over 30 years.

“That says something about the company, people stay,” Adrian said.

The key to staff retention, the management agrees, is their approach to continuous learning and upskilling using a coaching mentality. Using this approach, their employees are not told what to do but shown, given the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned in front of a professional before they are sent out to do the job.

They carry out internal staff work audits and external work audits are carried out by outside third party bodies such as KIWA from Holland and British Standards Institutes from the UK.

Crosserlough man Cathal, known internally as “the best man for abbreviations”, is keen on quality within Apex Fire. He uses the acronym RED abundantly in his daily job, standing for Remain, Explain and Deliver, which is implemented with all personnel, from managers to employees and employees to customers.

“The biggest value that I’m working on is communication,” Cathal said.

“I am making sure that from the top right down to the competent technician out on the road, they know what their job is; they have clarity on what they are doing,” he explained, with a huge emphasis on continuous professional development within the company.

Apex Fire has an internal training academy where their employees and apprentices can gain qualifications. Declan pointed out they were saying the word “men” as the company currently has no female technicians in Ireland, something he would like to see changing with opportunities available for all genders. Their current apprentices range from 23-54 years with places for new apprentices opening up later this year or early next year.

“You can come here today and know nothing about fire extinguishers and in six months’ time, you can be as good as the next individual,” Declan said of their academy.

“We’re in every county in Ireland and we employ people in every county in Ireland,” he said of the opportunities available.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Apex Fire is keen to support local communities and businesses within the area, understanding that they have a social responsibility to give back to the locality.

“We’re giving back to the community we’re working within,” Declan said, mentioning they are the main sponsor for County Cavan Golf Club and County Cavan Rugby Club.