County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service named Fire and Rescue Service of the Year

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) is celebrating an exceptional night of national recognition.

On Wednesday 4th March, the Service was once again named UK Fire and Rescue Service of the Year at the iESE Public Sector Transformation Awards, alongside receiving the prestigious iESE Hall of Fame Award.

The UK Fire and Rescue Service of the Year accolade recognises outstanding performance, innovation and impact across prevention, protection and response.

Judges praised the Service’s ‘Outstanding’ inspection results, its game‑changing productivity app, award‑winning apprenticeship programme, and the breadth of work delivered in and alongside local communities.

Adding to the celebrations, the Service was also inducted into the iESE Hall of Fame – an honour reserved for exceptional organisations that have demonstrated sustained excellence in transforming public services over time.

Chief Fire Officer Steve Helps said: “This is an incredibly proud moment for our Service.

“Being named UK Fire and Rescue Service of the Year is a testament to the dedication, professionalism and commitment of our people, who work tirelessly every day to keep our communities safe.

“To also receive the iESE Hall of Fame Award makes this recognition even more special.

“It reflects not just what we’ve achieved this year, but the consistency, culture and values that our teams bring to everything they do.

“These awards belong to every member of our Service and to the communities who support us every step of the way.”

The iESE judges highlighted the Service’s ability to combine strong operational performance with innovation, workforce development and community impact, describing it as a standout example of modern, forward‑thinking public service delivery.

The awards ceremony, held as part of the annual iESE Public Sector Transformation Awards, celebrates excellence across the UK public sector and is regarded as one of the most respected national benchmarks for service transformation.