We spent 5 minutes with David Coles, PFX Operations Manager at Marlowe Fire & Security, to learn about how foresight and strong processes have shaped his approach to leadership. From his hands-on beginnings to managing his team today, David shares his journey and what he’s learned along the way.
What are your main responsibilities?
Overseeing the daily operations and management of the Portable Fire Extinguisher (PFX) team, ensuring effective leadership, regulatory compliance, reporting and documentation, health and safety, as well as budget management.
What is your main objective within this role?
My primary objective is to create a robust team with established structures to grow and to provide the best service to our existing and future customers.
What jobs did you do prior to joining us? What prepared you for your role here?
I worked at FSE Fire Safety Systems, which was acquired by Marlowe Fire & Security Group in 2019. Before becoming a Mechanical Operations Manager at FSE I wore many caps, from Extinguisher Engineer to Lead Engineer in Sprinklers, overseeing domestic installation projects. I believe that spending over 10 years on the road servicing extinguishers, combined with my experience of running installation sites, has been the best preparation for my current role as it helped me understand all aspects of our work and gain the knowledge needed to take the extinguisher team forward.
What’s the best thing about working at Marlowe Fire & Security?
The team I work with and the people across our business – they make coming to work every day enjoyable. I also appreciate understanding the vision of the business and feeling part of it, along with the opportunities that lie ahead within Marlowe Fire & Security.
What has been the highlight of your career at Marlowe Fire & Security over the years?
We’re continually implementing improvements within the department and it’s rewarding to see the positive impact on our customers, the organisation, our analytics and overall performance. Looking back, we started this work in November 2021 and the changes have been significant – which is a credit to the team. One of the most impactful changes we made was improving the way we schedule our works within the department; this gave us much more foresight and enabled us to quickly react to our customers’ needs.
What has been your greatest personal achievement?
A couple of my greatest achievements are completing two big walks. The first was walking the length of Hadrian’s Wall in 2021, which runs from Carlisle to Newcastle, and the second one was completing the West Highland Way in 2022, stretching from just North of Glasgow to Fort William. Both walks were around 100 miles each and we successfully completed them while carrying all our gear, including tents. Last year I also finally finished off the big three mountains of the UK by going up Ben Nevis!
What makes you most proud of your team/company?
I’m incredibly proud of our dedicated team of almost 40 who are delivering top-quality fire extinguisher maintenance services across the UK. Their commitment to safety and excellence is unmatched. Every member of the team understands the crucial role they play in protecting lives and property, ensuring that our clients’ fire safety equipment is always in perfect working condition. With professionalism, skill, and attention to detail, they consistently uphold the highest standards, making sure that safety is never compromised. I’m proud to lead such a remarkable group!
Where were you born/where did you grow up?
I was born in Nottingham and grew up in Sandiacre, I haven’t moved far as I’m now in Draycott.
What’s your favourite place in the world and why?
One place is the Scottish Highlands. It’s just a stunning place to be and you can just switch off from the world and enjoy the simple pleasures.
What’s on your bucket list?
I’d love to visit Iceland and see the Northern Lights.
And New Zealand looks like an incredible country to explore.
Thanks to David for sharing some insight into how our fantastic PFX (Portable Fire Extinguisher) team works.
For more information about extinguishers please click here.