Fire Service apprenticeship opportunities during National Apprenticeship Week

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week while advertising two apprenticeship roles on offer.

The Service has apprentices in a variety of roles from firefighting to finance.  

Operational Firefighting Apprenticeship 

One of the roles currently on offer with ECFRS is a firefighter apprenticeship as part of the wholetime firefighter role. ECFRS will be recruiting wholetime firefighters until 21 February 2025 before re-opening recruitment again on 5 May 2025.  

As a firefighter you’ll attend a variety of incidents from fires to animal rescues as well as help to prevent incidents by working with the community to help make Essex safer. 

Since 2019, all wholetime firefighters joining ECFRS take on a Level 3 Operational Firefighting Apprenticeship. Alongside their training to become operational firefighters, new recruits also take on an 18-24 month apprenticeship where they need to evidence their knowledge and skills in operational firefighting, community engagement and understanding of risk. 

Today, 18 wholetime firefighters are starting their initial training course at the Service Training Centre in Witham. They’ll spend the next 17 weeks learning the ropes to become a firefighter and will continue their training and apprenticeship at a wholetime fire station. 

Firefighter Charlotte Yates from Chelmsford Fire Station is almost two months into her Level 3 Operational Firefighting Apprenticeship. After completing a 17-week basic training course at the Service Training Centre in Witham, Charlotte is continuing her training on station while attending incidents and working in the community to prevent incidents.  

She said: “If you are thinking of applying, the apprenticeship is a really great way to get into the job without feeling that you need to know the job from the get go. 

“It is paid as well. It's a liveable wage that you are earning while you are learning. So you're not really losing out on anything, you're just gaining more and more skills.” 

Crew Manager Neil Vint from Harlow Fire Station started his apprenticeship in 2020.  

He joined ECFRS in 2014 as an on-call firefighter at Dunmow Fire Station. Alongside his 10 years’ experience in the Service, Neil credits his apprenticeship for helping him secure a promotion as a Crew Manager.  

He said: “One of the skills that I picked up during the apprenticeship was during the professional discussion. It gave me the ability to answer questions in greater detail which really helped me during the promotion interview and presentation stages. I was able to give a lot of detail in my answers about how my role affects the service as a whole and the impact I can have on others. The evidence I used for my apprenticeship mirrors a lot of the evidence I used when going for promotion.” 

ECFRS has been recognised for its firefighter apprenticeship with Station Manager Scott Fretton, Operational Training being shortlisted for the National Fire Chiefs Council Apprenticeship Awards in the Inclusion Champion category. The awards ceremony will be held on 10 February.   

The nomination recognises Scott’s hard work and commitment to improve diversity, culture and inclusion in the Service's firefighter apprenticeships.   

Prevention Officer Apprenticeship 

Another apprenticeship role on offer in ECFRS is the Apprentice Prevention Officer role. There are a number of opportunities in this role based in Basildon, Clacton, Colchester, Harlow and Thurrock.  

The 18-month apprenticeship is a new role within the Prevention Team that looks to complete a Level 3 qualification in Community Health and Wellbeing. 

The role is a great opportunity to learn new skills while working to make a real difference in people’s lives. Apprentices will work with different teams including operational crews, education officer, the Road and Water Safety team as well as partners in health and other emergency services.  

Part of the role will include supporting the Service’s prevention initiatives including home fire safety visits and working with communities to help make them safer. 

You can apply for this role from Tuesday 11 February. 

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has also supported apprentices in a range of specialisms from fitness to vehicle technicians and Human Resources.    

Find out more about the Service’s roles and how to apply here.