We are committed to putting equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, and we welcome applications from all members of our community.
We recognise that, for a variety of reasons, people from under-represented groups may not have considered that the role of firefighter is for them, or they may feel daunted about what the recruitment process might look like.
We therefore carry out activities to positively attract those from under-represented groups when seeking new wholetime firefighters.
One of the main things is our Buddy Scheme, which offers potential applicants the opportunity to talk to a firefighter from our Service about the job they do.
Up until the application process begins, you can have up to six 30-minute sessions with your buddy to discuss the wholetime firefighter recruitment guides. They will also be able to give you additional support based on their lived experiences as a woman, an ethnic minority person, an LGBTQIA+ person or intersectional blend of these.
We hold Firefighter Recruitment Experience Events in key locations across our Service ahead of recruitment. These provide people with an insight into the firefighter role and elements of the recruitment process, while also giving you the opportunity to ask any questions so that you feel fully supported and confident to apply.
Additionally, we will consider holding a ‘Buddy Me’ day at a time and location that you are most comfortable with. These may possibly be wholly run by a team of buddies. We will do our best to accommodate any such requests and subsequently advertise the event in the wider community to ensure we make the most of the day.
The Buddy Scheme and Buddy Me days are only open to applicants from these under-represented groups.
Buddies do not provide specific selection information, and they can’t provide applicants with feedback on performance during the process – they are purely there to provide informal support up to applications opening.
Further information about the Buddy Scheme is promoted ahead of wholetime recruitment opening. The next process is expected in the latter part of 2027.