The people on whom society depends cannot choose their risks. Firefighters, police officers, rail staff and energy workers face contamination, blunt-force injury and extreme conditions as part of the job. What they wear decides how well they are protected. For 90 years, that responsibility has shaped everything we do.

Hunter Apparel Solutions Limited (Hunter) is a fourth-generation, family-owned manufacturer and distributor of professional uniforms and personal protective equipment (PPE). We were founded in 1936 and have manufactured in Northern Ireland, since 1936. In our 90th year, Hunter is growing faster than at any point in its history.

In Simon’s words “Working with the Fire service for 30 years, I have an empathy for the challenges they face, whether that’s operationally or budgetary; over the last decade my focus has been how we as a company can help.” For Simon Hunter Esq, M.B.E., Chief Executive of Hunter, protecting them is personal.

That understanding shapes how Hunter designs, supplies and cares for firefighter PPE. It is why we treat what happens after the fire as seriously as the fire itself.

A business more than doubled, with a plan to triple

Under Simon’s leadership, Hunter has more than doubled in size. We are now on a clear path to triple our revenue.

That growth comes from two directions. We are expanding across our existing markets in the UK and Ireland: Fire Services, Police Services, Rail and Transport Services, and Energy and Associated Utilities. We are also opening new export markets around the world. Growth here is not an end in itself. Every new contract means more people protected by equipment designed and managed with care.

The core: Hunter wear it Be it®, is at the heart of the business. We design award-winning uniforms and provide PPE for organisations where failure has direct operational consequences. We design, size, supply and maintain garments across their whole service life. Our factory is Module D certified and audited by BTTG. We hold ISO 9001, 14001, 27001 and 45001, with zero non-conformances recorded in 2025. Robotics and AI-driven sizing help us fit large, distributed workforces accurately and during the Covid-19 pandemic, Hunter supplied 55 million units of PPE.

A national framework, and the long view it allows. Hunter’s capability has been recognised at national level. Hunter has been appointed to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) framework for firefighter PPE. It opens large-value contract opportunities of up to 12 years with fire and rescue services across the UK.

Hunter can help fire services plan the whole PPE lifecycle, not just the next purchase. HunterPAC® manages sizing and ordering. HunterCARE® manages inspection, repair and care. Deconology® decontaminates. This is what full lifecycle responsibility looks like in practice.

In September, Hunter co-exhibited with Texport® at the Emergency Services Show at the NEC Birmingham. We met fire and rescue services to show how they can use the framework to support crews over the long term. As UK exclusive agent for Texport®, we bring some of Europe’s leading structural firefighting garments to the UK and Irish Fire Services.

Deconology®: a UK first in PPE decontamination

Firefighter PPE can look clean after a water-based wash but still carry harmful contaminants deep within its complex layers, including the waterproof breathable membrane. Deconology® was engineered to address this and help improve the long-term health outcomes of firefighters.

Deconology® was the UK’s first LCO₂+ decontamination system on the market. LCO₂+ decontamination penetrates deep into the layers of complex PPE, which traditional water-based washing cannot reach. The process runs at room temperature, uses no water and leaves no environmental effluent. Working to support sustainability goals, a gentler process than industrial laundry systems that also protect PPE integrity and extends its service life, (based on NFPA testing).

Our future growth plans include offering Deconology® in three ways: as a service, on lease, or for purchase. It sits alongside HunterCARE® as the next layer of care for fire services that want stronger control over contamination. Deconology® won the BSIF Safety Solution Award and the Belfast Telegraph Excellence in Innovation Award both in 2025, whilst most recently winning the Manufacturing NI Award for Product Innovation of the Year and became finalist for the Manufacturing UK awards.

Flexguard® is now ready for the world

A one-size-fits-all approach to PPE should never of been acceptable. Those who serve come in every shape and size, and their protection must fit them. The elbow and knee’s are where public order officers are most exposed. Traditional rigid protection leaves joints vulnerable when it matters most. Flexguard® was engineered to move with the wearer’s anthropometrics, offering complete protection.

Flexguard® is the world’s first fully hinged blunt-trauma exoskeleton. It was developed with police officers, prison officers, military personnel, public order instructors and physiotherapists. Flexguard® has exceeded the performance required by the relevant protection standard.

Flexguard® is now fully tested and ready to sell globally. In 2025 it won the BSIF, British Safety Industry Federation – Product Innovation Award in the UK and also won the highest global honour in the professional clothing industry at the NAUMD | Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors awards for Product Innovation in the USA.

Growing in scale and we want to hear from you

Growth on this scale needs people. As Hunter expands, we are building our team and beyond. We want to hear from people who want meaningful work in advanced manufacturing.

Our team works across design, manufacturing, technology, garment care and decontamination, sales, marketing and customer service. We invest in apprenticeships, training and continuous development. We work with local colleges and education providers to create routes into the industry for people from a wide range of backgrounds. Every role contributes to protecting those who serve.

You do not need to wait for a vacancy to be advertised. If you are looking to start a career in manufacturing, design or technology, we welcome your CV at any time. Send it to jobs@hunterapparelsolutions.com with a short note on the kind of work that interests you.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is Hunter Apparel Solutions? Hunter Apparel Solutions Limited (Hunter) is a fourth-generation, family-owned uniform and PPE manufacturer founded in 1936. It serves Fire, Police, Rail and Transport, and Energy and Associated Utilities organisations across the UK and Ireland, and is expanding into global export markets.

Where is Hunter Apparel Solutions based? Hunter has been based in Northern Ireland, since 1936. Its factory is Module D certified and audited by BTTG, and the company holds ISO 9001, 14001, 27001 and 45001.

Is Hunter recruiting? Yes. Hunter is growing and welcomes CVs at any time from people interested in design, manufacturing, technology, sales, marketing, customer service, garment care and decontamination, Send your CV to jobs@hunterapparelsolutions.com

What is Flexguard®? Flexguard® is Hunter’s and the world’s first fully hinged blunt-trauma exoskeleton for public order officers and won both the BSIF and NAUMD Product Innovation Awards in 2025.

What is Deconology®? Deconology® is Hunter’s LCO₂+ decontamination system for PPE, and was the first of it’s kind available to the UK and Irish market. It is available as a service now and soon to be available on lease or for purchase. The purpose of Deconology® is to decontaminate fire PPE and help improve the long-term health outcomes of firefighters.

Is Hunter on the NFCC PPE framework? Yes. Hunter has been appointed to six lots of the NFCC National Firefighter PPE Framework (C25038), covering the complete firefighter PPE ensemble under managed service, its lifecycle care and specialist decontamination.