Fire Officer's Achievements Will Ensure Event Safety
19 November 2012
Fire Officer Duncan White at Buxton's awards ceremony
The safe running of events is taken very seriously by the Fire & Rescue Service and so working with the industry is vitally important. I wanted to better understand the pressures and constraints that professionals face on the other side of the fence, and so thought what better way to do this than to study events management?
”Duncan White
A Fire Officer from the Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service graduated from the University of Derby Buxton with a qualification that will help him promote public safety at UK events like Glastonbury Festival 2013.
Duncan White, 44, from Crewkerne in Somerset, is responsible for Events Management at Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, and is the UK Event Safety Lead for the Chief Fire Officers' Association. He plays a key role in the safe running of large scale events in the region, such as the Glastonbury music festival and the Somerset Winter Carnival.
Working with Glastonbury Festival's events team to ensure the safety of up to 177,500 people led Duncan to decide to pursue qualifications in Event Management to support his work. Two years later he has achieved a Foundation Degree in Events Management by studying online with the University of Derby Buxton.
Duncan said: "The safe running of events is taken very seriously by the Fire & Rescue Service and so working with the industry is vitally important. I wanted to better understand the pressures and constraints that professionals face on the other side of the fence, and so thought what better way to do this than to study events management?"
"I began by completing a University Diploma in Event Safety Management with the University of Derby Corporate, and then progressed onto the Foundation Degree at Buxton. Studying online enabled me to fit my University work around my shift work, as often the best time to study was at 3am."
Duncan graduated alongside around 300 students at the University's annual Awards Ceremony at its Grade II* Listed Devonshire Dome on Saturday (November 17).
Duncan added: "The support I received from tutors throughout my degree has been excellent and it feels fantastic to graduate. I'm already putting what I have learned into the planning of Glastonbury 2013, which is now well underway."
Eddy Grant, who lectures on the University's Events Management degrees, and the Diploma in Events Safety Management at the University of Derby Corporate (UDC), added: "Duncan has shown a real commitment to understanding the events industry through his learning so he can work with partners to deliver the safest events possible.
"It was wonderful to see Duncan's hard work rewarded as he graduated."
For more information on studying at online, part time at the University of Derby visit www.derby.ac.uk/online
