28-09-2025
Every month, our Joint Managing Director, Angela Bennett, shares an insight into leadership within fire and security…
“September has been a whirlwind month for me, packed with progress, people, and plenty of sparkle at a few black tie events. From new team members and two trips to London, to audits and training, it’s been a reminder of how important strong networks and continuous learning are – both for Diamond and for me personally.
The month started on a high as we welcomed Josh, our new apprentice, who joined Diamond Systems on 1st September. He’s already settling in brilliantly, and it’s fantastic to see the next generation of talent beginning their journey with us. In October we’ll be joined by our new Junior Sales Executive, further strengthening our safety products and training division – exciting times ahead. One of the most enjoyable aspects of my role is creating additional employment, and giving young people a start in a solid career.
I am a big believer in paying it forward, so this month I signed up as a mentor with SistersIN, a wonderful initiative that connects female leaders with young women still at school. It’s a privilege to support and encourage the next generation as they shape their future careers. I didn’t have a mentor at school, or university (outside of family members), but I have had plenty since. Mentorship is a fantastic way to grow and challenge yourself, and it also holds you accountable and makes you more receptive to feedback.
September saw us commence a Northern Ireland-wide rollout of P50 fire extinguishers for a major retail chain, on behalf of one of our GB based partners. The retail chain selected the P50 for its sustainability, safety, and life cycle cost saving, and who could blame them. Keep an eye out for the P50s the next time you are out shopping. On top of that, we’ve seen a steady stream of P50 extinguisher orders coming in across every kind of setting, from farms and offices, to vehicle fleets and apartment developments. It is good to see Northern Ireland embracing this innovation, even though we are around 10 years behind the P50’s adoption in GB.
On the compliance front, we retained a Grade A in our annual Health & Safety Audit – our 20th year as members of the Safe-T-Cert scheme. As our projects take us everywhere from new construction sites to residential homes, health and safety is a vital aspect of the planning and delivery of our work. Our NSI Fire Audit also fell into September, this time the focus was one of our recent major projects within an education setting. Three times per year NSI Inspectors visit our company to audit our completed projects across security and fire, and review our paperwork and certification, ensuring the highest compliance with the Codes of Practice and NSI Gold Scheme rules.
Networking has been a big theme for me this month (when is it ever not?!) I have recently rejoined the Institute of Directors and attended their annual dinner in Belfast, which was a fantastic evening of connection and conversation. I also enjoyed a busy calendar of client meetings with ADS members following the brilliant Stormont ADS event earlier in the month, which commemorated the Battle of Britain. It was truly an honour to be on the guest list for that event, and to meet some of the wonderfully brave people who protect our nation.
A highlight this month was attending the DSEI event in London, where I was hugely impressed by the innovation and strength of the UK defence sector. I particularly enjoyed speaking to the Northern Ireland businesses who were exhibiting there, some of whom are clients of Diamond. It was fascinating to hear about the products and services they supply into the defence sector. Another networking highlight was attending my friend Ciaran May’s Natural Resilience ‘Breaking Bread’ breakfast, with Lady Mary Peters and the Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Paul Doherty (no relation to our Paul Doherty!), in the beautiful setting of Regency House. It is fantastic to catch up with familiar faces at these events, some of whom also attend Ciaran’s Rising Tide sea dips.
September also saw the Women in Fire Safety Awards in London, which I attended as a guest of Gavin Skelly of Fire Aware. As last year’s UK Woman of the Year, I was honoured to give the opening speech – and it was inspiring to see such talent and commitment across our industry. I have now officialy handed over the title to the 2025 winner, and what a worthy successor in Dr Barbara Lane, one of the most respected voices in fire safety. Her expertise, leadership and role in shaping standards – including her work on the Grenfell Inquiry – make her an inspiration to us all – and inspiration is what these awards are all about!
Whilst in London, I also spent time with our partners at Uptick, the job management platform we use to deliver a seamless experience for our clients. It was great to catch up with the wonderful team, take part in a video interview about our journey with Uptick, and see first-hand how their innovation continues to transform the way fire and security businesses operate. Partnerships like this help us stay ahead – ensuring our clients benefit from both cutting-edge technology and our trusted expertise.
Planning has also been underway this month for November’s NI Safety Group conference, where I’ll be speaking on a panel about Martyn’s Law, alongside other industry voices including Figen Murray. You can now buy tickets for the event on the NISG website.
The month will finish on a forward-looking note with the AI event at the MAC Theatre: Stop Watching AI from the Sidelines. Start Building It Into Your Business Now. It is set to be a practical, high-energy session full of real-world insights and live demos, with a clear message – AI is here, and it’s time to embrace it. Just as we embrace innovation in fire and security, events like this encourage us to apply the same mindset across every area of business. Our willingness to learn new skills, embrace change, and step into unfamiliar territory helps us grow – both as leaders and as businesses.
September was also a month for some final preparations for my upcoming trip to Australia for a close friend’s wedding.
As we head into October, I’m excited to welcome our new Junior Sales Executive to the Diamond team, keep building on the momentum of our projects, and continue finding ways to grow, connect, and inspire.”
Angela
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