Garriock Bros praised for ‘exceptional’ contribution to fire teams
PLANT hire firm Garriock Bros has been highly praised for its support of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) in Shetland.
Local fire commander Matt Mason said the company had demonstrated an “exceptional and unwavering commitment” to fire teams in the isles.
Wednesday’s community safety and resilience board meeting heard Garriocks not only repair and service fire vehicles, but also have a longstanding support for its staff to serve as on-call firefighters.
And the company also regularly provides scrap vehicles for the fire service to use in its road traffic collision training.
Mason heralded Garriock Bros as making a “significant and lasting contribution to public safety and emergency response capabilities across the islands” at Wednesday’s meeting.
Board members Allison Duncan, Catherine Hughson, Neil Pearson and Andrew Hall were all unanimous in their praise for Garriock Bros.
Hall said they had displayed the “best of community spirit” in their support for SFRS, adding it was “great to recognise” their commitment to the emergency services.
And board chairman Duncan said Garriocks were “deeply deserving” of recognition for the work they do with local fire teams.
Mason said the company provided a “highly responsive” vehicle recovery and breakdown service, often at very short notice.
“This support has proved invaluable in maintaining operational continuity, particularly within Shetland’s challenging and remote environment, where rapid response and resilience are essential to protecting communities.”
He said one of Garriocks’ greatest contributions to fire teams was in allowing their staff to serve as on-call firefighters.
“Garriock Bros. demonstrates a strong commitment to public service by allowing employees the flexibility to leave their workplace immediately when required to attend emergency incidents,” he said.
The company’s operations director Robin Leslie served as watch commander at Brae fire station, Mason said, which highlighted the strong relationship between the two.
He also highlighted Ingrid Laurenson, saying her family had a “proud and longstanding association with the fire service”.
“Her father was one of the founding members of Brae fire station, while her husband, uncle and brother have all served their community through the SFRS.
“Continuing this tradition, her sons, firefighters Craig and Scott Laurenson, are also dedicated members of the service.
“While not a firefighter herself, Ingrid’s connection to generations of service reflects the values of commitment and community support that are evident throughout the organisation.”
The company also made a “significant contribution to firefighter training” through delivering scrap vehicles, Mason added.
“The collective impact of these contributions cannot be overstated,” Mason told the meeting.
“Through its enduring support, Garriock Bros has significantly enhanced the operational readiness, resilience, and effectiveness of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in Shetland.
“As an employer that not only supports its workforce but actively contributes to the safety and resilience of the wider community, Garriock Bros is a truly deserving recipient of employer recognition.”
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