Here at CDDFRS, we know that our biggest asset is Our People.
That’s why every week we’ll be introducing you to a different member of our team, everyone from those in our most public facing roles such as members of our fire crews to those who are instrumental behind the scenes.
And who better to kick start this new feature than our Chief Fire Officer Steve Helps, who this month is celebrating one year as the service’s leader.
Here’s his story…
For many in the service, growing up they dreamed of one day becoming a firefighter.
But as a young lad growing up on the outskirts of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, Our CFO had other ideas.
He planned to follow in the footsteps of his family before him and had secured an apprenticeship at Silverhill Colliery in Nottinghamshire.
But this was the mid-1980s, a time consumed by miners’ strikes, and in the fallout of strike action, the job offer was withdrawn.
Looking back at that crossroads, Steve said: “With the late 1980s and early 1990s gripped with recession and after a variety of jobs, I joined the motorcycling company Kawasaki managing their warehouse in Clay Cross.
“With a fire station in running distance at the end of the road, I joined the retained providing 24 hour on-call cover and had a great time.”
That initial spark of passion for the role grew and it wasn’t long before Steve had secured a wholetime firefighter role at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue.
He next took positions with Derbyshire and South Yorkshire FRS, building up his experience and gleaning best practices from the services.
And then in 2020 he joined CDDFRS as Deputy Chief Fire Officer, taking over as Chief Fire Officer a few years later in January 2023.
And though it wasn’t the path that Steve had initially envisioned for himself, he could not be happier with how things worked out.
Speaking of his passion for fire and rescue, he said: “Even though the places and jobs over the years have changed, I still get up in a morning with the same feeling as I had when I first started, the anticipation of the day ahead not knowing what challenges you will face and the feeling of wanting to make a difference.
“For me I have always enjoyed working with others, you spend such a lot of time at work, so it’s important that you enjoy the company of those you work with.
“I believe a key element of a successful team is focusing on the small things which can make the biggest differences - I call them TNTs (Tiny Noticeable Things) and I get the greatest satisfaction in seeing other people happy and striving to do well.”
When not at work, Steve loves nothing more than walking or cycling and, of course, spending time with his wife Nicola and their boys Jack and Harry.
