CEO MONTHLY / JULY 2025 8 he road to becoming a CEO is often paved with diverse experiences and the honing of expertise in areas such as education and leadership. However, few CEOs have had a journey as rich as Darren J. Young, whose career began in 1990 as a firefighter for the Royal Air Force. Across his tenure in the RAF, Darren developed skills relating to emergency response and risk management in some of the most demanding conditions known to man. Since leaving the RAF in 2006, Darren has pursued a range of different opportunities, from instructing and advising on fire safety for the NHS to working as a sports presenter and even a television host. It was his eight years as a teacher that were perhaps the most rewarding for Darren though, as these represented a rewarding challenge and the chance to develop his own communication and training skills – all whilst empowering others. 1st Aid Fire is as successful as it is today as a result of Darren’s dual experience as a teacher and a firefighter, with his aim since taking on the role of CEO being to deliver practical, engaging, and highquality education designed to accurately prepare organisations to protect their people and property should disaster strike. This is achieved through provisions such as emergency first-aid courses, fire awareness training, and thorough fire risk assessments. Injecting his expert knowledge across all of these programmes, Darren’s commitment to professional development and innovation has, over the years, led to recognition from across industry. This includes featuring in last year’s iteration of this programme, when Darren received the title of Most Influential CEO 2024 – Kent (Fire Risk Assessments). One-upping that this year, Darren’s drive to deliver results is today stronger than ever before. This sentiment is shared by the entire team at 1st Aid Fire and is something ingrained in the company culture that stems from Darren’s approach to leadership. Exploring this further, Darren told us: “I’ve evolved from a hands-on, directive approach to one of trust, collaboration, and empowerment. I want everyone on the team to feel valued, confident, and motivated to take ownership of their roles. Being approachable and listening closely to the team’s ideas and concerns has helped build a culture where people thrive.” Specialist Fire Risk Assessments and Training Darren J. Young is the CEO of 1st Aid Fire Limited, a company offering fire risk assessments and delivering comprehensive fire and first-aid training to workplaces and open training venues across the UK. Having led the business now for more than a decade, Darren leverages a professional background – including a 16-year stint as an RAF firefighter and eight years as teacher – to equip organisations with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves. On the back of his recognition as the Most Influential CEO 2025 – Fire Risk Assessments (UK), we caught up with Darren for more. “Building a culture of trust and open communication is essential – your team should feel valued and heard. Leadership is not a solo journey, so surround yourself with people who complement your strengths and challenge you to be better.” On the back of this culture, innovation has been able to flourish at 1st Aid Fire, which is continuing to use the latest technology to enhance both its fire-safety training and risk assessments. One example of this is its upcoming AI-powered app, Fire Risk Pro Assessor, which is set to be introduced in July. Darren explained: “The app will allow businesses to perform precise, expert-level fire risk assessments via their mobile devices.” This is just the tip of the iceberg, as the company also utilises state-of-the-art tools such as virtual reality simulations to offer trainees realistic drills, with courses being updated constantly to adhere to the evolving regulations inherent in this space. These offerings allow 1st Aid Fire Limited to go one step further than its competitors and have established it as a trusted leader in the field of fire safety – one known for innovation and integrity. Finally, reflecting on his back-to-back titles, Darren told us: “Winning this award is a huge honour and a validation of our hard work and commitment to excellence. It motivates me to raise our standards even higher as we expand from a local to a national presence.” He continued: “If you’re interested in learning more or partnering with us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Together, we can create safer workplaces and communities for everyone.” T Contact: Darren J. Young Company: 1st Aid Fire Limited Web Address: c
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