UK Resilience Academy to expand National Occupational Standards for Resilience and Emergencies

Developed by a diverse working group, including the Cabinet Office, National Emergencies Trust, National Fire Chiefs Council and National Police Chiefs’ Council, the proposed standards focus on systemic and chronic risk, the financial and economic dimensions of resilience, long‑term strategic planning and the role of organisational leaders in ensuring resilience is a whole of society endeavour.

The Resilience and Emergencies NOS are nationally agreed definitions of the knowledge, skills and understanding required to effectively prepare for, respond to and recover from risks and emergencies. Local and devolved governments, operators of critical infrastructure, emergency services and NHS organisations are among those already implementing the existing NOS, and the expanded suite will support these bodies, and others with strategic responsibilities, to further strengthen capability at senior and executive levels.

The project to expand the NOS forms part of the UK Government’s wider resilience agenda, which has seen the launch of the Resilience Action Plan and the UK Resilience Academy in recent times, as well as the formation of the House of Lords National Resilience Committee.

Roger Hargreaves, Director at COBR, said:

“The NOS provide a recognised national benchmark for our workforce, helping to define expectations, support capability development and ensure consistency across diverse governance and operating environments.

“NOS support organisations and partners to more effectively prepare, respond, recover and learn from disruptive events. Accordingly, the addition of the new leadership standards can only enhance the capacity of organisations and partners to fulfil these vital functions.”

Jon Czul, Managing Director at The Workforce Development Trust, said:

“We are committed to listening to the resilience community and continuously updating the NOS so that they remain relevant, practical and shaped by those who use them.

“These additional new standards provide a vital strategic leadership dimension, particularly for senior and executive roles, reinforcing resilience as a long‑term, system‑wide priority and supporting leaders to take a more anticipatory, risk‑informed approach.”

Stephen Gaskell, Corporate Strategy Advisor at Greater London Authority, said:

“Knowing your community is critical to building strong and cohesive places. That’s why local and strategic authorities are at the centre of how we work together across our places to achieve resilient communities.

“As resilience efforts gather pace, and as government continues to put additional tools and resources in place to strengthen societal resilience, we welcome the expansion of the NOS to enhance strategic capabilities across local and regional government.”