Shahbaz Shah Awarded MBE in King’s Birthday Honours
Lancashire firefighter Shahbaz Shah has been awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours list, recognising his exceptional service to the fire and rescue sector.
Shahbaz, who has served with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service for over 17 years, has been a driving force behind inclusive recruitment campaigns and community engagement initiatives. His work has significantly increased representation from underrepresented communities, particularly among Asian and Pakistani backgrounds.
As a member of the service’s Race and Religion employee voice group and a long-standing contributor to the Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA), Shahbaz has led projects that have improved engagement with diverse communities, supported mental health awareness, and championed positive action across the UK.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a vital role in public health outreach, helping to build vaccine confidence among hesitant communities through culturally sensitive dialogue and trusted relationships.
Jon Charters, Chief Fire Officer, has praised Shahbaz’s national impact:
“Shahbaz has served as an on-call firefighter in Lancashire with outstanding dedication and commitment. His involvement in a national recruitment drive has significantly helped fire and rescue services across the country to recruit more on-call firefighters”
He continued:
“The National Fire Chief’s Council was extremely grateful for Shahbaz’s willingness to allow people to film inside his home, offering an intimate glimpse into his family life and demonstrating how he balances his duties as a firefighter with his personal responsibilities”
“Shahbaz has also been a role model for on-call firefighters from diverse backgrounds. His efforts have been particularly impactful in recruiting Asian firefighters, breaking down barriers and fostering inclusivity within the fire and rescue service.”
Speaking about the honour, Shahbaz Shah said:
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this award. It reflects the collective efforts of so many people who believe in building a fire and rescue service that truly represents and serves all our communities. I hope this recognition inspires others to step forward and make a difference.”
Asian Fire Service Association National Advisor Professor Jagtar Singh has been awarded a CBE in the King’s Birthday Honours
Professor Jagtar Singh CBE was Acting Chief Fire Officer in Bedford and Luton Fire and Rescue Service and rose from firefighter to divisional commander in the West Midlands Fire Service.
Professor Jagtar Singh CBE is co-chair of the Asian Professionals National Alliance and was also the Chair of Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) from 2014-2024. Jagtar has been recognised for making significant contributions across various sectors, demonstrating exceptional leadership and commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. In addition to his roles in the fire service and NHS, Professor Singh has served as a trustee for several charities, including the Healing Foundation and Bedford Race Equality.
Jagtar has a wealth of expertise, including 30 years in the fire and rescue service, and 12 years in non-executive roles in the NHS (having previously worked as a non-executive director in the ambulance service, and Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust).
In the NHS, Jagtar has been recognised for his work on equalities and inclusion and he has received awards from national bodies including the Health Service Journal (HSJ). In 2020 he was named by the HSJ as one of the 50 most influential BAME leaders in health and won the National Asian Achievement Awards in 2016 for most influential NHS leader.
Jagtar told FIRE magazine: “I am truly humbled and incredibly honoured to receive the CBE. This award is not just for me; it’s a shared acknowledgement that I proudly dedicate to all my family, my wife Gurjit Basi, friends and exceptional colleagues from fire, police and the NHS.
“Any success I’ve had is directly attributable to the collective dedication and hard work of the many people I’ve been privileged to support, through my professional roles, various charities, and staff and volunteer initiatives.”
FIRE Editor Andrew Ledgerton-Lynch OBE said: “I have known Jagtar for over 25 years and have always been impressed by his relentless energy and commitment to driving positive change. His phenomenal enthusiasm to help others grow is a great source of inspiration and I am incredibly proud to see him be given this thoroughly well-deserved recognition.”