The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has secured a seven-year agreement with Motorola Solutions to implement a cloud-hosted Control Room Solution (CRS) across its operations, enhancing its emergency response capabilities throughout Scotland. The contract, part of SFRS’s strategic modernisation plans, aligns with Scotland’s national Cloud First policy and aims to optimise incident management in real-time.
SFRS operates out of three primary control centres located in Edinburgh, Dundee, and Johnstone. From these hubs, the service coordinates response efforts for a wide variety of incidents, including fires, road traffic accidents, and, increasingly, flooding and water rescues. With 356 fire stations dispersed across Scotland, SFRS handles tens of thousands of emergency responses annually, making efficient and unified coordination essential.
Assistant Chief Officer Andy Watt, who oversees strategic control room operations, highlighted the anticipated benefits of the system. “Installing a cloud-hosted, single command and control system has been a strategic priority for our Fire and Rescue Service, in line with our digital strategy and the Scottish Government’s Cloud First policy,” Watt said. “Motorola Solutions’ mobilising solution will improve our ability to coordinate during high-demand periods, reduce cybersecurity risks, and provide a modern experience for our control room operators.”
Motorola Solutions’ role in the contract marks another chapter in the company’s longstanding involvement in public safety within Scotland. In addition to the newly contracted CRS, Motorola’s technology forms the backbone of communications for numerous Scottish emergency services. This includes the national Airwave network, which uses TETRA radio technology to ensure reliable, secure communication across a range of public safety agencies, including the police, ambulance, and fire services. Motorola also supplies the Pronto Digital Policing Application and body cameras, both instrumental in enhancing frontline safety and communication for public safety organisations across Scotland.
Fergus Mayne, Country Manager for Motorola Solutions in the UK and Ireland, expressed enthusiasm for the project, noting its potential to transform emergency response for the people of Scotland. “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service responds to a wide range of complex incidents daily,” Mayne said. “Our control room solution will enhance SFRS’s operational efficiency and help safeguard communities across Scotland.”
This system will consolidate SFRS’s resources, allowing for better data sharing and incident coordination among control rooms, improving response time and collaboration during major events or “spate” conditions where multiple incidents occur simultaneously. With a single, cloud-based system, SFRS is poised to mitigate risks associated with fragmented or outdated software and respond more effectively to evolving challenges in emergency management.
Motorola Solutions has been instrumental in supporting public safety in Scotland for many years, reinforcing critical communications and modernising digital infrastructure. Gregor MacKenzie, Motorola Solutions’ Account Director for Scotland and Northern Ireland, and Area Commander Jacqui MacDonald of SFRS were among the key stakeholders present at the announcement, where they underscored the importance of continued partnerships between technology providers and public safety services.
The system is expected to roll out across the SFRS’s control centers in the coming months.
