Hello, and welcome to our first recruitment guide. We need the best and most committed people to join our team so, in the months leading up to the wholetime firefighter recruitment process, we want to offer potential applicants support and guidance, so you have the best possible opportunity to succeed in your application.
Everyone has access to this guide and all the information on our website. If you are eligible for a buddy through our Buddy Scheme as a woman, someone from an ethnic minority background and/or an LGBTQ+ person, your buddy will use these guides to help show you that a rewarding career as a firefighter is an option for you.
Please familiarise yourself with our website, where you will find the answers to most questions, as well as the most up to date information. And remember, you are responsible for your application and your fitness – only you can take ownership of your preparation.
Our ethical principles
DWFRS is fully signed up to five ethical principles as a basis for setting expected behaviours and challenging inappropriate behaviour.
When you join us, you become an ambassador for our Service and must display these values at all times. Find out more about our Code of Ethics and take our code of ethics self-assessment.
Do you have what we need?
- Are you a role model who leads by example?
- Are you a team player?
- Do you want to work within your community and make a difference?
- Do you have respect for diversity, with a fair and ethical approach?
- Do you have physical and mental strength?
- Are you calm under pressure with the ability to work outside your comfort zone?
- Can you stay focused and achieve a goal under stressful emergency situations?
- Are you able to work at height and in dark confined spaces?
Eligibility criteria
To join the fire and rescue service, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old when you join us (you can apply once you are 17½).
- Have a good standard of physical fitness – and we can provide advice on what is needed.
- Have the right to work in the UK.
- Not have any unspent criminal convictions – please click here to view information on our pre-employment checks and policy statements on the recruitment of ex-offenders.
- Hold a full valid UK manual driving licence.
- Be confident in water.
Reasonable adjustments
If you require reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, you will have the opportunity to let us know at the earliest opportunity so that we can consider adjustments that could be made at any stage in the recruitment process to support you.
Where possible, we will also support any cultural or religious requirements that may need to be accommodated as part of the process.
Standards for hearing and eyesight on entry to the Service are detailed on our website here:
Fitness standards
You must have a VO2 Max of 42, which is the national minimum standard. This is achieved by a bleep test (shuttle run). You will need to achieve Level 8, Shuttle 8.
More information about the practical assessment and ability tests can be found here, including a video showing you the whole process.
We recommend you work on your fitness and strength, and this link to our 12-week programme will help you to prepare.
This is the end of your first recruitment guide, please move on to the second guide when you are ready.
Please note that this guide was provided during the 2024/2025 recruitment process. This may not be exactly the same going forward, but it gives you an idea of what a future process may look like.