Focal award: EPSRC and MHCLG Fire Engineering Skills Hub
Limited submission
Focal award: EPSRC and MHCLG Fire Engineering Skills Hub supports future practitioners, researchers and innovators through doctoral training and postgraduate programme development to build UK fire engineering capacity.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: October 1, 2026 (Mandatory EOI) | November 3, 2026 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: Up to £5.9 million total for up to two skills hubs; maximum 60 months
Summary: Supports coordinated doctoral training and postgraduate programme development to strengthen UK fire engineering skills and capacity.
Key Information: Only higher education institutions may apply, and applications without a previously submitted EOI will be rejected.
Description
EPSRC delivers this skills hub funding with support from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). It aims to address skills gaps and uneven training provision across UK fire engineering and adjacent professions, developing the next generation of practitioners, researchers and innovators.
Each hub must combine cohort-based doctoral training, development of taught postgraduate level 7 programmes, and level 7 continuing professional development (CPD). Provision should align with the Fire Engineers Advisory Panel’s Authoritative Statement and support future professional regulation and accreditation. Priorities include fire safety strategy, ethical practice, research-led teaching, multidisciplinary working and wider access to training. Consortia must build meaningful industry and professional links and demonstrate sustainable educational capacity beyond the funding period.
