News

The Blue Light Show is delighted to announce a partnership with British APCO for the 2026 event. As part of this collaboration, British APCO will deliver a dedicated education programme within The Critical Response Theatre, bringing expertise in public safety technology, IT and communications to the heart of the show’s educational content.

Founded in 1993 and operating as a registered charity, British APCO is recognised as the UK’s leading association for professionals using or developing technology for public safety. Serving communities across police, fire, ambulance, Coast Guard, mountain rescue, defence, transport, and utilities, the organisation provides a trusted, independent environment for users and suppliers to collaborate, share knowledge, and shape the future of emergency services.

“British APCO is delighted to be partnering with the Blue Light Show. This collaboration will strengthen our reach across the wider blue light community, create opportunities for new connections, and spark valuable conversations. Above all, it allows us to give back to the community through relevant and insightful content delivered in the British APCO Critical Response Theatre.” Duncan Swan, Chief Operating Officer, British APCO

Showcasing Leadership in Public Safety Technology

British APCO brings deep, practical insight into frontline challenges and technology-driven solutions. Key initiatives such as Next Generation 999 and the Multi-Agency Incident Transfer (MAIT) schema demonstrate the organisation’s long-standing commitment to improving critical communications and multi-agency collaboration across the UK.

With MAIT now enabling digital incident transfer between agencies in as little as 14–15 seconds and adoption growing, including recent implementation by West Yorkshire Police, British APCO’s role as the custodian of standards and thought leadership continues to be pivotal to progress in the sector.

“British APCO’s mission aligns perfectly with the purpose of The Blue Light Show - to bring the sector together to share real-world solutions, improve operational effectiveness, and explore innovation that genuinely supports first responders,” said Carmela Coop-Rodia, Director at What Else Events. “Their user-led expertise and commitment to improving emergency communications will elevate the quality and relevance of our 2026 content programme.”

A High-Impact Content Programme for 2026

For the 2026 Blue Light Show, British APCO will curate and deliver a content programme that is:

· User-driven and operationally focused

· Rich in real-world case studies spanning police, fire, ambulance, and Coast Guard

· Centred on the application of technology rather than technical theory

· Designed around panels and multi-voice discussions to reflect the collaborative nature of emergency response

The Critical Response Theatre in partnership with British APCO will explore the entire emergency response journey, from the initial call for help, through triage and mobilisation, to supporting frontline responders with the information, tools, and systems they rely on every day.

British APCO is proud to offer FREE MEMBERSHIP for colleagues working in the following areas:

· All current and retired Public Safety & First Responder employees

· Government staff associated with resilience/public safety

· Volunteers of bona fide Public Safety & First Responder organisations

For more information about British APCO, visit: www.bapco.org.uk

The Blue Light Show 2026 will take place on 1st-2nd July 2026.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Sarah Bray

Head of Marketing, What Else Events

sarah.bray@whatelseevents.co.uk