We are committed to supporting the development and progression of all staff, and there is a fair and consistent approach to performance and future promotions. One of our key priorities is ‘Developing and Supporting our People’.
We provide a flexible approach to learning (including our own internal e-learning system known as GROW) with Continuous Professional Development (CPD), and have Development Pathways for all staff at all levels in the Service.
We provide access to specialist development activities and identify training to help improve operational, managerial and leadership roles.
Promotion opportunities
Once you have completed your training and are no longer a firefighter in development, it will be possible for you to apply for promotion. There is a full and varied career available for those interested in career progression, with several different role levels that people can aspire to be promoted to within the Fire Service. View our Pay and Policies page for more details about salaries for the following roles.
- Crew Manager
- Watch Manager
- Station Manager
- Group Manager
- Area Manager
- Assistant Chief Fire Officer
- Chief Fire Officer
We run promotion processes that staff can apply to if they want to apply for a role at a higher level. To support you with this, there are development pathways and a dedicated internal Learning and Organisational Development team who will support you to progress. Development includes initiatives including one to one coaching to support our underrepresented groups through organisations like Women in the Fire Service and the Asian Fire Service Association.
Promotions to roles at Crew Manager and Watch Manager are completed through a number of elements, testing your skills and knowledge, and providing you with training to ensure you have the right skills once promoted.
Career opportunities
The role of a firefighter is the first step in a rewarding career. As well as the opportunity of progressing your career through station-based roles, there are many varied career pathways in other operational disciplines. Here are a couple of examples of opportunities available:
Fire Safety
The Fire and Rescue Services are the enforcing authority for fire safety matters in commercial premises as well as most other buildings and workplaces under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The Fire Safety team work with partners to ensure that the legislation is followed, guidance is provided to the Responsible Person, and that enforcement action is taken where necessary.
As well as the requirement for firefighters to have a basic knowledge of fire safety systems and procedures so that they can identify potentially dangerous conditions, there is scope to undertake further training as part of a career progression route to support with fire safety related project work, training and ultimately to lead the team of Fire Safety Inspectors. Opportunities exist to increase technical knowledge through professionally accredited examinations and nationally recognised competence in auditing premises, enforcement activity and assessing building regulation submissions.
Training
Opportunities to gain promotion can lead to roles in one of our training centres for the right candidates. If successful, you can become an instructor in Breathing Apparatus, Compartment Fire Behaviour, Road Traffic Collisions and Incident Command. This will mean providing input to new recruits and also to long serving firefighters. As well as training people to develop their skills further, we would support and develop you so that you will be able to provide subject matter expert advice to the Service.