Steve Dickinson's guest in today's episode is Nicola John. Together they discuss what it takes to improve fire door safety across an entire industry.

Nicola shares the experiences and ideas that shaped her career and led to the creation of Fire
Door Maintenance (FDM) Training and Development.

She reflects on her early career in hospitality, where she learned valuable lessons about
customer service, management and leadership, as well as the influence of her family life and
education. She also discusses her first directorship in construction and how she later began
working with UAP as a consultant.

That consultancy work sparked the idea for FDM: practical, relevant training to help people
better understand fire doors and their responsibilities. Nicola explains why effective training
needs to go beyond theory, why understanding a fire door’s lifecycle matters, and how the
industry has supported FDM as its courses and qualifications have grown.

The conversation explores door ownership and the Responsible Person's role, the importance
of demonstrating competence, and the ongoing need for a deeper understanding of the
Building Safety Act (BSA). Nicola also discusses why individuals should take ownership of their
continuing professional development (CPD), and why organisations committed to improvement
invest in developing their people.

Finally, she looks ahead to FDM’s future as part of Allegion and the opportunities that come
with being part of a global group. For Nicola, the purpose remains clear: make a difference,
support professional development and drive higher standards across the industry.

Topics covered in today's show include:

- Why people skills matter in every sector. Nicola’s hospitality experience helped shape her
approach to customer service, management and leadership in construction.
- Why fire door training should be practical. People need useful knowledge they can apply to
real-world responsibilities.
- Why understanding the lifecycle of a fire door is essential. Knowing how a fire door is
maintained and managed helps people make better decisions.
- Why responsibility needs clarity. Door ownership and the Responsible Person's role are key
to effective fire door management.
- Why competence must be demonstrated. Training and development help individuals build,
evidence and maintain the skills their roles require.
- Why professionals should take an active role in keeping their knowledge and skills up to date.
- Why the BSA still needs clearer understanding across the industry. Continued learning can
help people better understand what the legislation means for their work.
- Why strong organisations invest in their people. A commitment to training and development
supports improvement across teams and businesses.
- Why FDM’s next chapter brings new opportunities. Being part of Allegion gives FDM the
chance to learn from a global group and keep growing.
- Why Nicola's goal is to raise standards. FDM is focused on making a positive difference through
better training and development.

Discover more about Fire Door Maintenance (FDM) Training and Development:
https://fdmltd.co.uk/

Steve Dickinson’s guest on this episode is Michael Menzel, founder and recently retired Managing Director of Docking Solution & Service (DSS).

The conversation enters the specialist world of the loading bay—the point where warehouses, vehicles, equipment and people meet, and where productivity and safety must work together.

Michael has spent the past thirty years working in this field. He founded DSS within the Novoferm Group and grew the business—and its mydocking brand—into one of the leading European players in its sector.

Topics covered in the episode include:

• Michael’s early career and his route into loading technology
• The creation and development of DSS
• The complexity of the interface between the vehicle, the building, the equipment and the people
• What happens when productivity and safety compete
• How loading-bay risks can be reduced through better system design
• The intelligent warehouse and the emergence of Physical AI
• Why customers should become part of research and development
• Leadership, retirement and what ultimately matters

Steve Dickinson's guest in today's episode is Christian Hasenest, CEO of the Novoferm Group.

He is a dynamic, modern executive steering one of the absolute cornerstones of the global entrance solutions market. With a strong foundation in business administration, his career has been defined by driving commercial excellence and premium brand leadership across some of Europe's most respected industrial organizations—including BTI, Kärcher, and the Fischer Group.

In April 2025, Christian took the helm as the Chief Executive Officer of the Novoferm Group. He is currently leading a highly strategic evolution of the business, unifying a powerful international network into a coherent, high-performance global entity under the vision of 'One Novoferm.'

Topics covered in the show include:

• Hands-on leadership on the road
• The DNA of premium global brands
• The strength of the Novoferm network
• Market trends in tech and sustainablity
• AI in entrance solutions
• Coherence and unity: The One Novoferm vision
• The art of strategic alignment and modern leadership
• Engaging a global workforce, and aligning the entire team with a vision for a dynamic, unified group.