Wholetime firefighter recruitment opens in Essex
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) has launched its recruitment drive for wholetime firefighters, offering people the opportunity to make a difference to keeping Essex safe.
The recruitment window opened today, Tuesday 21 January, and will remain open until 21 February, with successful candidates set to begin their training in June 2025.
This is a chance to play a crucial role in protecting communities, saving lives, and keeping people in Essex safe. Whether people are looking for a rewarding career in the fire service or seeking to make a positive difference in their community, ECFRS is calling on motivated applicants to apply.
No prior firefighting experience is necessary, as full training will be provided. To apply, candidates must meet the following minimum criteria:
- be eligible to work in the UK
- be 18 years old on 1 February 2025
- have a full UK driving licence (manual)
- have a GCSE pass at grade C or 4 (or above), or have attained Functional Skills (Level 2) in Maths and English
- meet the vision and hearing criteria
Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive Rick Hylton said: “We’re excited to start recruitment for another squad of wholetime firefighters this year.
“Our firefighters are team members, teachers, communicators, community-minded, protectors and role models. Firefighting is a diverse and rewarding career on the front line, saving lives.
“But the role isn’t just about tacking fires or rescuing people from danger. It’s about speaking to people, engaging with communities, visiting schools and offering safety advice.”
“This recruitment drive is an essential step in making sure that we have the skilled and committed people needed to respond to emergencies and make Essex a safe place to live, work and travel.”
Next steps
If you’re interested in applying to become a firefighter and want to know more, visit https://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/wholetime
There, you'll find lots of information on fitness, the application process and the link to apply.
Make a difference. Start your firefighting career with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service today.