Oliver North is a well-known personality in emergency services circles. After several years managing truck production businesses in fire and ambulance, he started Venari Group, which aims to build quality medical emergency and fire equipment and vehicles on British soli. Oliver recently closed a deal with German fire manufacturer Ziegler.
What led you to set up Venari Group?
Apparent gaps in the emergency vehicle market drove me to create Venari Group. I firmly believe the bar needs raising in the UK fire vehicle sector. I also think the UK ambulance sector required more robustness. There are considerable benefits to the economy and taxpayer when we manufacture emergency vehicles for the UK on home turf. All employee and business tax go back into the pot, which funds emergency vehicles.
What are Venari Group’s main specialisms?
Whether it is a fire truck or an ambulance, to produce the best stock on the market, you need the most creative, passionate, and skilled vehicle manufacturers. These range from coachbuilders to auto electrical and machine operators. People often say that UK manufacturing is a thing of the past. However, after working with high-quality German, Austrian, and Italian manufacturers, I know we are every bit as good as other territories in terms of production. In our market, everything is slightly different. Improved ergonomics are the nucleus of our plan. Frontline operators need to be able to rely on their equipment to assist in the critical work they carry out.
How do you see the current market for emergency vehicles on an international level?
I like this question as a reference point for my previous answers. Continental emergency markets very much look after their homegrown manufacturers. I have had this discussion with continental European brigades and trusts over a hundred times, and these have all said that their pre-requisites are to buy local. It makes complete sense to feed and grow the economy while strengthening industry in the country that funds the purchases.
Are there significant differences in how the different emergency services procure vehicles?
In the UK, I feel we adhere to EU procurement law far more stringently than in any other country. But to see British factories closing as a result of us importing the same product from overseas makes no sense to me whatsoever.
Explain how the arrangement with Ziegler came about?
Ziegler was about to step into the UK market and had a few options on the table. The German company’s fire truck products are the best I have seen, and so I fully understand how they can be an asset to the UK fire and rescue market. I approached Ziegler’s Chief Sales Officer, Rene Pol, with the concept of building their world-class range at Venari in Yorkshire, which Ziegler agreed to.
What does this mean for the market?
Ziegler is very conscious of ensuring any of their range for the UK is built in the UK, for obvious economic benefits, which means that fire brigades can access their world-class Alpas aluminium body structure. It will mean more technology and a higher quality finish.
What do you see as the main trends for fire vehicles at the moment?
British fire and rescue services are certainly adjusting to the ever-evolving role of a modern firefighter. Roads and streets become more congested, and structural fires become less prevalent. RTCs and wildfires replace traditional tasks. Trucks are evolving into a ‘tool’ more relevant to the current jobs at-hand. With an immediate necessity for lighter and more environmentally friendly vehicles, we will need to move away from heavier plastic superstructures onto more flexible and lighter aluminium bodies. Ziegler offered this lighter option with Alpas rather than outsourcing a plastic body to a third party.
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How can the fire service improve vehicle procurement?
Each brigade has its system, and the use of plastic bodies is more common in the UK than any other country, globally, which doesn’t make any sense, in my opinion. We will see very soon that we can drive more innovation, better value for money and substantial environmental benefits with a sophisticated aluminium build. The largest fire truck manufacturers in the world design aluminium bodies because it is lightweight and easy to repair.
