About Us
We are OFR Consultants, an independent consultancy dedicated to addressing fire safety challenges.
Founded in 2016, in five short years we’ve grown from a two person start-up to what is now the UK’s leading fire risk consultancy.
Before establishing OFR, our founders Simon Lay and Sam Liptrott held senior management roles at global multi-disciplinary organisations. They saw space in the market for a practice dedicated solely to fire engineering, with a focus on technical skills, but delivering those services to projects of all sizes and types.
With Sam and Simon at its helm, this promising start-up grew quickly. After founding the business in Manchester, work soon emerged across the UK and Europe and the team began to grow, with bases in London and Scotland quickly established. The vision and dynamic of the business attracted more senior leaders from other multi-discipline organisations, including Ryan McCreadie and Andy Passingham who joined the board of the business, which helped establish additional bases in Yorkshire and the South West.
A research team was established to carry out self funded, governmental and commercial studies into fundamental questions arising around fire safety and to feed state of the art technical solutions into the design process. At the other end of the spectrum, the team also expanded to include experts in the delivery of solutions in the construction environment, creating a full services capability.
By 2018, the directors had recruited 40 new colleagues, with a portfolio now spanning the entire world, with projects in far flung places like Cuba and Sri Lanka.
Now firmly established, the business was able to pivot with all shares being internalised and a rebranding which reiterated the independent nature of the team.
Today, OFR is a nationwide, multi-million turnover, award-winning consultancy.
At the heart of everything we do are great people. We now employ more than 100 colleagues from over 20 countries — the brightest and best professionals in their field who help us deliver on global projects.
Together we offer clients pre-eminent fire engineering expertise — protecting people, property and the environment.
Our mission is to continually explore the challenges that fire creates for our clients and society so that we can apply the best research, experience and diligence for effective tailored solutions.
Our belief in sustainable buildings
We believe in the safe and sustainable use of timber as a construction material, and we are continually investing in research and development to better understand the challenges to help timber find its place in the future of construction.
We are leading the agenda and are currently advising on 30 large-scale, high profile timber projects.
A conscious commitment to great causes
We work hard to deliver social value through our work, supporting charities including The Africa Trust and Forever Manchester.
We enable our colleagues to support their chosen charitable endeavours by providing paid leave to carry out any work that will help good causes. You can read more about them here:
We work hard to deliver social value through our work, supporting charities including The Africa Trust and Forever Manchester.
We enable our colleagues to support their chosen charitable endeavours by providing paid leave to carry out any work that will help good causes. You can read more about them here:


We work hard to deliver social value through our work, supporting charities including The Africa Trust and Forever Manchester.


We enable our colleagues to support their chosen charitable endeavours by providing paid leave to carry out any work that will help good causes. You can read more about them here:
Our colleague Callum joining the police to help on the Covid19 front line.
Supporting the NHS on the creation of the Nightingale hospitals.
Helping to build a school for children in Malawi.


The Alistair Henderson legacy
One of the first people to join OFR was Alistair Henderson. Al was a superb fire engineer with a passion for getting things right and training new staff.
Sadly we lost Al to cancer in 2020, but in his memory we provide pro-bono support to a wide range of projects which are either charitable in nature or create positive local social impact. You can read more about the projects in 2020-21 we have supported in Al’s name below:
One of the first people to join OFR was Alistair Henderson. Al was a superb fire engineer with a passion for getting things right and training new staff.
Sadly we lost Al to cancer in 2020, but in his memory we provide pro-bono support to a wide range of projects which are either charitable in nature or create positive local social impact. You can read more about the projects in 2020-21 we have supported in Al’s name below:

One of the first people to join OFR was Alistair Henderson. Al was a superb fire engineer with a passion for getting things right and training new staff.

Sadly we lost Al to cancer in 2020, but in his memory we provide pro-bono support to a wide range of projects which are either charitable in nature or create positive local social impact. You can read more about the projects in 2020-21 we have supported in Al’s name below:

Embassy Village is a a new community being built in Manchester that will provide much needed wrap-around support for the city’s homeless and vulnerable men.

A national pedal powered passenger and cargo service wanting to change the face of our cities.

Sale based Brooklands Sports Club run local sports clubs for youngsters and also have successful tennis, hockey and cricket teams.
Pro-bono work value provided to date:
£14,440
