Fire Brigades Union
The Fire Brigades Union is the UK's largest specialist trade union for firefighters, representing approximately 34,000 members across whole-time, retained, and control staff in the UK fire and rescue service. Founded in 1918 and headquartered in London, it delivers pay negotiation, legal support, pensions advocacy, and occupational health campaigns including the UCLan cancer registry.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1918
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Fire Brigades Union does
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is the UK's largest specialist trade union for firefighters, founded on 1 October 1918 as the Firemen's Trade Union (FTU) and renamed in 1930. Headquartered in London, it represents approximately 34,000 members at its 2018 centenary across the UK fire and rescue service, including whole-time firefighters, retained (on-call) firefighters, fire control staff, and fire service officers. The union is funded primarily through member subscriptions, supplemented by proceeds from the Firefighters 100 Lottery and official FBU merchandise sales, and operates as a democratic membership organisation with an annual conference as its supreme decision-making body, an Executive Council, and 13 regional/national structures.
The FBU delivers representation and advocacy across pay negotiations, pensions, health and safety, disciplinary matters, and industrial action, alongside an in-house education programme, legal services through partner Thompson's Solicitors, an accident and injury fund handling over £600,000 in claims annually, and a mental health research programme. Its technology stack is straightforward: a Drupal-based public website, a members portal (members.fbu.org.uk), and the FBU mobile app. The union's most distinctive data asset is the UK Firefighters Cancer and Disease Registry, administered by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) since 2019 and funded by the Firefighters 100 Lottery, which has surveyed over 10,000 serving firefighters and underpins the DECON campaign on fire contaminants and occupational cancer. Active campaigns include Cuts Kill (opposing fire service austerity), DECON, Grenfell: Never Again, Breathing Apparatus Safety, Equality Matters, and Pay Reform.
Recent strategic activity in 2026 has centred on defensive wins: defeating proposed cuts in Oxfordshire, securing a 3.8% pay settlement, agreeing an RDS pension settlement, and commissioning an independent review of racism in the union's governance. The FBU is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress and participates in international public-sector union bodies (PSI, EPSU) plus solidarity campaigns. It has no parent company, no external investors, and does not publish financial results; revenue, subscription rates, and post-2018 membership figures are not publicly disclosed.
Fire Brigades Union firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fire Brigades Union
- Legal name
- Fire Brigades Union
- Website
- https://www.fbu.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1918
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- The Fire Brigades Union is the UK's largest specialist trade union for firefighters, representing approximately 34,000 members across whole-time, retained, and control staff in the UK fire and rescue service. Founded in 1918 and headquartered in London, it delivers pay negotiation, legal support, pensions advocacy, and occupational health campaigns including the UCLan cancer registry.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fire Brigades Union industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Union Services
- NAICS
- Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (81393), Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (813930)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)
Keywords
Where Fire Brigades Union is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fire Brigades Union business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership subscriptions: The FBU is funded primarily through membership subscriptions paid by firefighters, fire control staff, and retained firefighters. Subscriptions fund the union's campaigns, legal services, education programmes, accident and injury fund, and political work.
- Firefighters 100 Lottery: A weekly online lottery created to support firefighters, their bereaved families, and to honour the bravery and sacrifice of firefighters killed in the line of duty. Proceeds fund the UK Firefighters Cancer and Disease Registry.
- Official FBU merchandise (shop): The union operates an online shop selling official FBU merchandise.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard membership subscription |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
Fire Brigades Union product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Fire Brigades Union is a democratic trade union that provides workplace representation, advocacy, legal support, education, and member benefits to firefighters, fire control staff, and retained firefighters across all UK fire and rescue services. Its core activities include negotiating on pay, pensions, and conditions; running campaigns on health and safety, equality, and service funding; delivering trade union education; operating an accident and injury fund; and publishing news, magazines, and circulars to members.
Product overview
The Fire Brigades Union offers a unified suite of member services centered around advocacy, representation, and support for firefighters across the UK. The core offering includes the FBU App for mobile access to union news and resources, the Firefighter Magazine publication, and various campaigns addressing health and safety (DECON, Breathing Apparatus Safety), service funding (Cuts Kill), equality (Equality Matters), justice (Grenfell: Never Again), and compensation (Pay Reform, Mental Health Support). Member benefits include the Firefighters 100 Lottery, Legal Services through Thompson's Solicitors, Pensions Advisory, and the Accident and Injury Fund. The Education & Training Programme provides trade union education for workplace representatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FBU App: Mobile application providing latest FBU news and support for members
- Firefighters 100 Lottery
- Firefighter Magazine
- Fire Brigades Union Solidarity Medal
- DECON
Products and services
- FBU App Mobile application providing the latest FBU news and support resources at firefighters' fingertips, including access to news, campaigns, and union information.
- Firefighter Magazine Official publication of the Fire Brigades Union featuring news, analysis, member stories, campaigns, and updates from across the UK fire service, with archive access.
- Firefighters 100 Lottery Weekly online lottery supporting firefighters, their bereaved families, and honouring the bravery and sacrifice of firefighters killed in the line of duty; operated at firefighters100lottery.co.uk.
- Education & Training Programme National trade union education programme delivering courses for branch, brigade, section and regional representatives to develop knowledge, skills, and confidence in their union roles.
- Legal Services Legal protection services for members provided through the FBU's partnership with Thompson's Solicitors, including personal injury and trade union law specialisms, advice on retained duty system pension claims, a legal helpline and forms, and a will writing service.
- Pensions Advisory Service Guidance and advocacy for firefighter pensions, including retained duty system pension claims and ongoing campaigns for pension justice.
- Accident and Injury Fund Communal support fund for members who suffer bereavement or injury, providing temporary disablement, permanent disablement, and death benefits.
- Official FBU Merchandise Shop Online store selling official FBU merchandise including clothing, accessories, and branded items.
Companies that use Fire Brigades Union
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fire Brigades Union technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Fire Brigades Union partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)coreThe FBU partnered with Professor Anna Stec and her research team at UCLan to conduct the UK's first major study into cancer and fire contaminants. Since 2019, UCLan researchers have surveyed over 10,000 serving firefighters and analysed Scottish firefighters' death certificates. This partnership underpins the DECON campaign and the UK Firefighters Cancer and Disease Registry. Professor Stec has received the FBU Solidarity Medal for this work.
- Thompson's SolicitorscoreThe FBU offers members access to Thompson's Solicitors, the UK's largest and longest-established firm of specialist personal injury and trade union lawyers, for legal advice and representation including the retained duty system pension claims.
- Firefighters 100 LotterycoreThe Firefighters 100 Lottery is a weekly online lottery created to support firefighters, their bereaved families, and to honour the bravery and sacrifice of firefighters killed in the line of duty. It funds the UK Firefighters Cancer and Disease Registry administered by UCLan.
- Trade Union Congress (TUC)coreThe FBU is affiliated to the TUC and participates in TUC campaigns, congresses, and the TUC Black Workers Conference. The FBU also coordinates through the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group (TUCG) for parliamentary campaigning.
- Public Services International (PSI)minorThe FBU participates in international union activities through PSI, coordinating with public service unions globally on shared issues and solidarity campaigns.
- European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU)minorThe FBU works with EPSU on European-level public service union activities, including conference participation and international solidarity.
- Cuba SolidarityminorThe FBU maintains solidarity with Cuban workers through Cuba Solidarity campaigns.
- Justice for ColombiaminorThe FBU participates in solidarity delegations and campaigns with Justice for Colombia, including trips to Colombia with trade union delegations.
- Palestine Solidarity CampaignminorThe FBU is active in Palestine solidarity campaigns, including calls for the release of a fire engine donated to Palestinian firefighters and support for Gaza's first responders.
- NIANRO Consulting (Professor Nicola Rollock)coreThe FBU commissioned NIANRO Consulting, led by Professor Nicola Rollock, to conduct an independent review of racism within the FBU's governance and structures. The review involves a member-wide survey and one-to-one interviews, with findings to be shared by Spring 2026.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Fire Brigades Union competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Royal College of Nursing (RCN): UK membership organisation and trade union for nursing staff. Comparable as a large specialist public-sector union with subscription revenue, legal services, professional education, and high-profile pay and staffing campaigns.
- ASLEF: UK trade union representing train drivers. Comparable as a sector-specialist union with subscription funding, focus on a single public-facing workforce, and recurring industrial-action cycles over pay and conditions.
- Unite the Union: One of the UK's largest trade unions with public-sector membership including some firefighters. Comparable structure: workplace organising, democratic conference governance, legal services, and political campaigning on pay and conditions.
- Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS): UK trade union for civil and public servants. Comparable in representing government-employed workers on pay, pensions, and conditions, with similar workplace rep structures and political campaigning model.
- GMB: Major UK general union with significant public-sector membership, including firefighters outside the FBU. Comparable as a subscription-based union offering representation, legal services, and political lobbying for blue-collar and public-service workers.
- NASUWT - The Teachers' Union: UK trade union representing teachers. Comparable in being a sector-specialist union with subscription funding, legal services, education programmes, and a focus on pay, conditions, and professional standards within a public-sector workforce.
- UNISON: Largest UK public services trade union, representing public-sector workers including some fire and rescue staff. Directly comparable as a membership-funded union providing representation, legal services, and campaigning for public-sector employees.
- Police Federation of England and Wales: Statutory representative body for police officers in England and Wales. Closest sectoral peer to the FBU—similar operating model representing uniformed emergency-service workers on pay, pensions, and safety, with comparable workplace organising structures.
- Prison Officers Association (POA): UK union representing prison officers and related operational staff in public-sector custodial services. Comparable in scale, sector-specific focus, and representation model for uniformed public-sector workers.
Others
- Trades Union Congress (TUC): Umbrella body for UK trade unions of which the FBU is an affiliate. Not a direct peer but a key ecosystem partner providing cross-union coordination, political influence, and shared services—directly referenced in FBU's partnership data.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fire Brigades Union social profiles
Digital presenceFire Brigades Union financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fire Brigades Union leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Fire Brigades Union funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fire Brigades Union M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fire Brigades Union
What does Fire Brigades Union do?
The Fire Brigades Union is a democratic trade union that provides workplace representation, advocacy, legal support, education, and member benefits to firefighters, fire control staff, and retained firefighters across all UK fire and rescue services. Its core activities include negotiating on pay, pensions, and conditions; running campaigns on health and safety, equality, and service funding; delivering trade union education; operating an accident and injury fund; and publishing news, magazines, and circulars to members.
Is Fire Brigades Union a public or private company?
Fire Brigades Union is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fire Brigades Union founded?
Fire Brigades Union was founded in 1918. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Fire Brigades Union based?
Fire Brigades Union is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Fire Brigades Union make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are firefighters 100 Lottery and official FBU merchandise (shop).
Who are Fire Brigades Union's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Royal College of Nursing (RCN), ASLEF, Unite the Union, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), GMB, NASUWT - The Teachers' Union, UNISON, Police Federation of England and Wales and Prison Officers Association (POA). Trades Union Congress (TUC) is listed as an others.
Does Fire Brigades Union have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fire Brigades Union.
What industry is Fire Brigades Union in?
Fire Brigades Union's product category is Trade Union Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAL, Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management), with a secondary code of BPAIAGAB, Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue). Its NAICS code is 81393 and its SIC code is 8600.