Ferg Slade

Senior Comms Manager at @WestMidsFire. Lacrosse player, reluctant football fan, can authentically claim to be a TV chef.

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

"Why do we need Pride month?"

Because of the sorts of replies @NFRS_DCFO got, which I feel he handled really well in my view.

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

@PaulBrandITV Hi Paul, I work for West Midlands Fire Service - I'd like to get in touch about a possible interview with our CEO. Could you follow me so I can drop a DM please? Thanks

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

God, I hope someone's let the submarines...I mean, sub-editors know

@SkyNews

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

This couldn't have been done without the support of a huge section of @WestMidsFire. Stations, the heritage centre, staff, voice-over "volunteers," the team that put the strategy and CRMP together...oh, and an extraordinary comms team that transformed all our platforms in a snap.

[West Midlands Fire Service @WestMidsFire]

Fifty years ago, separate fire stations and services became West Midlands Fire Service 🚒

Today, 'Our Strategy' sets out our three-year rolling plan, based on your feedback on what we should focus on, to lead us into the future.
🔗 https://t.co/axZdbbtDaj

#WeAreWMFS

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

I was filmed earlier this week for International Men's Day to talk mental health and helping each other when we're struggling.

I have lost two friends to suicide. I wish I could have helped. I hope this helps just one person. I'm always here if someone needs me.

[West Midlands Fire Service @WestMidsFire]

Have you checked in on a friend or family member this #InternationalMensDay?

Did you #AskTwice about how they're feeling?

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

What a night. What a team that made it happen. Some not in this picture, either camera shy or unable to attend, but I hope they know who they are. Glad we put on a night @WestMidsFire deserves!

[West Midlands Fire Service @WestMidsFire]

And the winners are..! 🥁

Last night we celebrated the achievements of colleagues across West Midlands Fire Service, at our 2023 Rewards and Recognition celebration 🏆 🎉

Read about their inspiring work, and check out the photos, here: https://t.co/hx3iOwJggB

#WeAreWMFS 🚒

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

I've always benefitted from being able to scribble things down, cross it out, start again until what I've got is spot on. Thanks to the kindness of a colleague, that's now much easier at home with a whiteboard desk. I'm absolutely made up with it, and it's inspired some jealousy!

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

Really privileged to speak at FirePRO yesterday on best practice in fire service comms, focusing on photo consent. Stirred up a few questions and possibly some nerves among colleagues but an excellent networking opportunity that you don't get in many other sectors.

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

@Stephinnotts Elon or X? They've become synonymous I fear. The benefit of X is/was live, real time, reliable information from authenticated sources. That's gone now, so too I fear is the trust in X. So what's the alternative? Cut it out? Rebalance your efforts? Innovate? I have some ideas

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

The challenges for comms teams of the changes to X are clear to see tonight. While the Met's comms have said outright that an arrest made in London isn't related to flags, tonnes of blue tick accounts say that's exactly why, spreading disinformation, drowning the Met out.

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

What a great way to finish a week. After a week in the classroom in summer and putting my social life on pause to revise, my project management results with @APMProjectMgmt came through. Not only did I pick up skills to help my role...I scored 73%. Good day! #myapmquals

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

Back to the day job following an excellent @emergencyukshow. Glad to see our refreshed branding went down so well and to see and hear the innovations the wider sector is exploring to keep people safe. Glad to have Luna as our unofficial brand ambassador - or ambassadog?

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

At a very busy @emergencyukshow with @WestMidsFire. New branding looks sharp and @WMFSWestBrom are currently undertaking a live extrication demonstration for a rapt crowd. Health and Wellbeing, @WMFSRCRT, Prevention and our search and rescue dog Luna

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

Lots of work has gone into how our communities can see what @WestMidsFire do in new ways. #WeAreWMFS will show what we ALL do to keep people safe.

A huge shout out to my comms team for their dedication in developing and producing this video and our refreshed new logo. Top work

[West Midlands Fire Service @WestMidsFire]

We provide lots of services to make our communities safer, stronger and healthier.

And it's all thanks to our fantastic people. Their professionalism. Their pride.

THEY are the stars of our brand new #WeAreWMFS campaign and video 🌟

Find out more: https://t.co/KQvKzR8sL1

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

Massive thanks to @WMFSHighgate Blue Watch today who hosted the @WestMidsFire comms team. Patient, accommodating and really informative throughout, they've made the "mistake" of giving my team new ideas.

With *some* apologies to @nspen1 for his...ahem..."development opportunity"

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

I'm on leave in Vilnius. My hotel has the right idea and some bold and clever creatives... @ComfortHotelLT

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

As my former colleague @kerrycooksblog once said when I worked at Nottingham City Council - if you want a tweet to fly, put a dog in it. I think @WMFSFireDog will be fine on her own though...This is more than just a dog - it's our latest Fire Dog.

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

Outside work, I play a niche sport in the UK - lacrosse. At the weekend, my team won the Midlands League title for the second year in a row. While there were a few action shots of me (#19), I think this one is probably my favourite...(credit: https://t.co/a55NEesVLQ)

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

@firefighters999 @WestMidsFire You're very welcome, hopefully there's enough there to do you some good!

[Ferg Slade @Ferg_not_Serg]

The problem with a house clear out is you're left with 4 bin bags of clothes that either much fatter or much skinnier you fit in to, but current you does not. Thankfully, @WestMidsFire has a clothing bin for @firefighters999 outside its HQ, which I suspect I've now filled...