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Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards

The Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of search and rescue teams, volunteers, organisations and suppliers who work so tirelessly to ensure we can respond in someone’s moment of need.

The event celebrates those from around the world who have shown unstinting dedication to the search and rescue community and for teams and individuals who have really made a difference.

As recent events such as the earthquake in Turkey and Syria demonstrate, the invaluable assistance provided by search and response teams is not only life-saving but brings the global community of first responders together to help improve response to future emergencies.

Recognising the outstanding contribution of individuals, teams and organisations to the invaluable role played by those on the frontline, the Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes responding to disasters and emergencies around the world.

Fire Knowledge, the publisher of FIRE magazine, and organiser of the highly regarded Excellence in Fire & Emergency Awards, is pleased to host this awards ceremony, which will showcase the close global community of search and rescue responders and recognise individual, team and organisational excellence.

To be held on May 15th 2026, at the fabulous One Great George Street, London, the Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards will highlight the best in global response and celebrate frontline responders and those working tirelessly behind the scenes to improve disaster response and save lives.

We offer a range of sponsorship packages for the Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards including partnership, award category sponsorship and many other options.

Interested in becoming a sponsor in 2026?

Contact us to find out more about sponsorship and the different packages available:

email: [email protected]

Venue-One Great George Street

Venue
Located just off Parliament Square, One Great George Street is the headquarters of the Institution of Civil Engineers. The glass-domed, Grade II listed Edwardian building is filled with rich, neo-Palladian and Baroque interiors, and is just a stone’s throw away from the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park.

 

2025 Winners

Fire Knowledge, in partnership with the Institute of Search and Technical Rescue, are proud to announce the winners for the 2025 Global Search and Rescue Excellence Awards that took place 16th May in London. See below…

Award Categories

Award Categories

Search and Rescue Mission of the Year

About the award

The Search and Rescue Mission of the Year award will be presented to the search and rescue team that has demonstrated a resourceful and effective response.

Past winners: 2025 –  RNLI Dover, Dungeness, Ramsgate and Walmer stations

Sponsored by tbc

Technical Rescue of the Year

About the award

The Technical Rescue of the Year award will be presented to a team which has demonstrated perseverance, ingenuity, innovation and effective response to effect a successful extrication over a protracted period and under difficult circumstances.
Past winners: 2025 –  Christopher Whittington, Michael Hennelly, John Carrigan & Norman Macleod – Bristow Helicopters Ltd

Sponsored by tbc

Trauma Care of the Year

About the award

The Trauma Care of the Year award will be presented to an individual or team which has provided life-saving or injury mitigating intervention, having demonstrated resourcefulness, effective intervention and a high degree of expertise and professionalism.
Past winners: 

2025 –  South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team

Sponsored by tbc

Heavy Rescue of the Year

About the award

The Heavy Rescue of the Year award will be presented to a team which has demonstrated perseverance, ingenuity, innovation and effective response to affect a successful extrication over a protracted period whilst utilising heavy extrication equipment.

Past winners: 2025 –  HIWFRS Urban Search and Rescue Team – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service

Sponsored by tbc

Team of the Year

About the award

Presented to the search and rescue team that has demonstrated ingenuity, resourcefulness and effective response whilst reducing risk, saving life and ensuring the safety of the team and supporting personnel. The team will have demonstrated excellent response at one or more incidents.

Past winners: 2025 –  UK ISAR

Sponsored by tbc

Training Provider of the Year

About the award

The Training Provider of the Year award will be presented to an individual, team or organisation that has delivered exceptional training for search and rescue personnel. The winner will have demonstrated transference of learning, exceptional feedback, organisational improvements and innovation and best practice.

Past winners: 2025 –  Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue – Waddington Training Centre

Sponsored by tbc

Innovator of the Year

About the award

The Innovator of the Year award will be presented to an individual, team or organisation that has developed innovative technology or a way of working that has made a significant difference to search and response extrication. The winner will demonstrate improved safety measures which have or will improve intervention, produce significant cost savings, or improved the overall provision of search and rescue response.

Past winners: 2025 –  CTIF Commission for Extrication and New Technology

Sponsored by tbc

Supporter of the Year

About the award

The Supporter of the Year award will be presented to the individual, team or organisation that has provided timely and effective support for search and rescue operations whether through fundraising, supplying equipment, providing logistical support or operational input.

Past winners: 2025 – Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Sponsored by tbc

Project of the Year

About the award

The Project of the Year award recognises collaborative working to improve operational response, whether on the frontline or through logistical and strategic support. The winner will demonstrate effective intervention, improvement of service, innovation and best practice.

Past winners: 2025 –  Lucy Macleod and the Immediate Emergency Care Team – London Fire Brigade

Sponsored by tbc

Unsung Hero Award

About the award

The Unsung Hero Award will be given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to search and rescue over the last 12 months. The winner will demonstrate a sustained contribution to improving search and rescue response, evidencing ingenuity, determination and excellence.

Past winners: 2025 – Kyle Nordfors – Weber County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue

Sponsored by tbc

Most Influential Individual

About the award

The Most Influential Individual award will be presented to the individual who has demonstrated a sustained, positive and effective contribution to search and rescue in the last 12 months.

Past winners: 2025 –  Dr. Robert Koester – Author Lost Person Behavior

Sponsored by tbc

Lifetime Achievement

About the award

The Lifetime Achievement award will be presented to a leading search and rescue figure who has made a significant, positive contribution to frontline response, including leading teams and saving lives, over a sustained period.

Past winners: 2025 – Dr. Neil Powell – Search and Rescue Dog Association Ireland North

Sponsored by tbc

Please note – The award organisers reserve the right to not award a category if circumstances deem it necessary.

Sponsorship

Why sponsor the Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards

 

  • Be part of the inaugural annual awards from FIRE magazine and have your brand aligned with one of the most prestigious awards ceremonies in the international search and rescue services
  • You can attend the event itself and be there to celebrate the achievements of the international search and rescue services
  • Network with fire services and other organisations at the awards ceremony and lunch
  • Have your company logo on all the promotional material before and after the event
  • Show your support for best practice within the international search and rescue services
Sponsorship

We offer a range of sponsorship packages for the Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards including partnership, award category sponsorship and many other options.

Interested in becoming a sponsor in 2025?

Contact us to find out more about sponsorship and the different packages available:

email: [email protected]

 

Click here to download the latest Sponsorship Brochure

Timeline

Timeline

2025 Timeline

  • Deadline for entries Friday 28th February
  • Judging takes place early March
  • Nominees and entrants are contacted late March
  • Shortlist announced late March
  • Award ceremony at One Great George Street, London on Friday 16th May 2025

Contact

Award entries/Event queries:

Nikki Holmes, Events and Operations Coordinator
email: [email protected]

tel: +44 (0)1273 434934

Sponsorship/Advertising:

Beverley Rees, Sales Manager
email: [email protected]

Editorial:

Andrew Ledgerton-Lynch
email: [email protected]

tel: +44 (0)1273 434951

 

Customer Services:

email: [email protected]

tel: +44 (0)1273 434943

FAQs

Please find the answers to some of the frequently asked questions for this event.

I am a shortlisted nominee, do I require a ticket to attend?

a. Yes, all attendees, including successfully shortlisted nominees, required a ticket. Please visit this page to purchase tickets

What is the breakdown of the day?

a. Breakdown of the day
12:00 – Drinks Reception
13:00 – 3 Course Dinner
15:00 – Awards Ceremony Begins
16:00 – 16:30 Awards Ceremony Ends*

*timings are approximate and subject to change

I am unable to complete my transaction to buy tickets online?

a. If you experience problems booking online, please ensure you enable pop-ups as this could be blocking your payment authenticator.  If you still cannot complete your payment, please make a note of the order number and call 01273 434943 to book over the phone. Alternatively, please select the Purchase Order option and provide details of PO

What is the dress code?

a. Dress Uniform or Smart Business

Do you have a list of local hotels?

a. There is a wide range of hotels locally, Park Plaza in Waterloo (6 Hercules Rd, London SE1 7DP), Hilton in Westminster (30 John Islip St, London SW1P 4DD ) and some ‘easier on the budget’ hotels, such as Premier Inn Waterloo (85 York Rd, London SE1 7NJ)  and Premier Inn Hub at Westminster Abbey (21 Tothill St, London SW1H 9LL).

Do you cover travel and accommodation costs?

a. All guests and award nominees are expected to have their travel and accommodation expenses covered by their organisations or cover them personally.

I have a food allergy or specific dietary requirement- what do I do?

a. You can email [email protected] by 24th April with any dietary requirements.  Anything received after this date can not be guaranteed by the venue but they will do all they can to accommodate late requests.  The menu will be sent out with the ticket confirmation email once tickets have been purchased.

Can I leave my suitcase somewhere?

a. Yes – there is a cloakroom at the venue where you can check-in your coats and cases

Is there parking at the venue?

a. There is no parking on-site. The nearest car park provided by Q-Park is located in Arneway Street, a short walk from Victoria Station. Limited meter parking is also available in and around adjacent streets.

Disabled Parking

The nearest Blue Badge disabled parking bay is located on Matthew Parker Street (drive down Storey’s Gate to the west of the venue and take the second right). Alternatively, a little further away, there are bays on Old Queen Street and Queen Anne’s Gate. These Blue Badge bays offer free parking for up to 4 hours between 08.30 and 18.30 Mon-Fri and unlimited parking at any other time. Please see Westminster Council’s website for further information.

Congestion Charge

One Great George Street lies within the charging area. For more information, including charges, visit the Transport for London website.

ULEZ

Find out if the new Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) impacts you.

By Train

One Great George Street is close to a number of underground and overground stations. Both Westminster (Exit 6) on the District, Circle and Jubilee lines, and St James’s Park on the District and Circle lines, are just 5 minutes walk away. For more information, visit the Transport for London website.  London’s mainline stations at Waterloo, Victoria and Charing Cross are minutes away by foot or by Underground. For further information visit the National Rail website.

By Bus

Numerous bus routes pass within a 1-2 minute walk of One Great George Street. Bus routes stopping near Parliament Square include: 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 87, 88, 148, 159, 211 and 453. For further information visit the Transport for London website.

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