PCIAW® / INDUSTRY INITIATIVES
Better uniforms for the people on the frontline.
A PCIAW® steering group connecting procurement, inclusive fit and secure circularity for emergency services.
THE MANDATE
Emergency service uniforms need to work for the people who wear them. Procurement specifications must keep pace with developments in materials, garment design and footwear.
PCIAW® brings industry expertise together to align standardised procurement with frontline requirements, providing a technical validation framework for high-performance, inclusive and sustainable uniforms.
ON THIS PAGE
01 / RESEARCH ROADMAP
The group audits the gap between prescriptive tenders and modern technology to guide collaborative projects that improve worker wellbeing and circular resilience.
01
Specify for performance.
Reusing outdated specifications can limit new technology and embed performance problems in the purchase. Support procurement teams in adopting performance-based requirements that enable industry-led innovation.
Planned output
Spec-Shift Tender Toolkit
Planned for 2027
02
Make inclusive fit measurable.
Examine concerns about ill-fitting, gendered uniforms, including effects on morale and productivity and reports of fit-related sickness. Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact of inclusive fit on recruitment, retention and sickness reduction.
Planned output
Emotional Durability Commercial Framework
Planned research output
03
Build a secure route to circularity.
Address missing circularity plans and reliance on landfill for blue light technical textiles, supporting services’ net-zero goals. Develop secure, de-branded waste streams to prevent branded uniforms being intercepted or misused during recycling.
Planned output
Secure Circularity Case Study
Planned case study
02 / THE EVIDENCE BASE
PCIAW®’s global round tables brought diverse stakeholders together to identify barriers in public-sector procurement, including gaps in technical expertise in tenders, limited size grading and reported health and wellbeing concerns linked to ill-fitting workwear.
Feedback on garment fit and outdated fabric technologies, including discomfort reported by blue light workers, informed the roadmap. The resulting projects aim to strengthen procurement knowledge and improve wearer experience through ergonomic uniforms.
ROUNDTABLE INSIGHTS
From frontline challenges to practical projects.
2025
Emergency services report
REPORT & ROUNDTABLE
Read the 2025 report and explore the industry discussion informing PCIAW®’s work on emergency service uniforms.
Supply security · Fit and functionality · Textile waste
Explore the organisations featured alongside the Emergency Services evidence base.
03 / LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE
Co-chairs Ryan McClintock and Julian Bartholet are PCIAW® Board Directors. Together, they provide Board oversight and complementary garment and footwear expertise across the group’s emergency service initiatives.
STEERING GROUP CO-CHAIR
Head of Business Development
Cooneen Group · PCIAW® Board Director
STEERING GROUP CO-CHAIR
Business Development Director
TUFFKING · PCIAW® Board Director
11
VOTING MEMBERS MAXIMUM
A focused group. A broad industry perspective.
Membership is capped at 11 voting members to support clear decisions and accountability, with expertise drawn from across the professional clothing value chain.
04 / TAKE PART
PCIAW® members can nominate senior leaders and technical experts for consideration.
The co-chairs review nominations to support representation across the value chain, including raw materials, fabric manufacture and textile recycling.
A CONNECTED VALUE CHAIN
Raw materials. Fabric manufacture. Textile recycling.
Tell PCIAW® about your nominee’s organisation, technical expertise and proposed contribution. Mention the Emergency Services Steering Group in your enquiry.
Continue the wider industry conversation.
