Apprenticeships
We offer a range of apprenticeship programmes with the opportunity to work across the Service in a variety of job roles including HR, Fleet Workshops, administration and IT.
Since 2019, all wholetime firefighters joining us 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.
If you are interested in an apprenticeship opportunity with us please keep an eye on our website or follow us on social media, where we will post details about opportunities as and when they arise.
For further information about the National Apprenticeship framework visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Meet Charlotte - one of our current firefighter apprentices
Firefighter Charlotte Yates from Chelmsford Fire Station is currently completing a Level 3 Operational Firefighting Apprenticeship.
After completing a 17-week basic training course at the Service Training Centre in Witham in December 2024, 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.
“Within those 18 months you do various training exercises, you do lots of drills, all fun things that keep your skill level up and making sure that you are the most prepared that you can be for the job.
“You've got people that help you out that have done it before. You've got people that have mentored other younger firefighter apprenticeships before who will help carry you through it. So you're not doing it all by yourself. You've got all the help and support that you need.
“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.”
Neil - one of our former firefighter apprentices
Crew Manager Neil Vint from Harlow Fire Station and Dunmow Fire Station completed 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.
“The apprenticeship continues to play a role in the job that I have today. I am now in the position that I manage two apprentices. My own experience with this allows me to give them the specialist help and support that they need.
“If you’re thinking of becoming a wholetime firefighter, definitely give it a go. When I transferred from on-call to wholetime, I had a good grasp of the things the Service did. I believe doing the apprenticeship made me a much more rounded firefighter.”
Meet Becca - one of our former business administration apprentices
Becca Gambrill-Bowers has been with our Service for six years. She currently works in our prevention team as a Business Support Assistant and started her career with us as an apprentice.
In 2019, Becca started the Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship. Throughout her apprenticeship, she worked with a variety of teams in our Prevention team learning administration and project management skills as well as different software packages.
Throughout her apprenticeship, Becca had to complete coursework and two assessments with an exam board where she got distinctions in every category.
After her apprenticeship ended, Becca secured a permanent position with us and has progressed throughout her six-year career with us.
She said: “The fire service is an excellent place to do an apprenticeship. The team that I worked with and other teams that I've worked alongside have all been really welcoming, very lovely and very skilled in what they do.
“I’ve really enjoyed it and I've experienced loads of opportunities I never would have got to if I didn't do the apprenticeship.
“An apprenticeship is an amazing way to get into a new career. You're able to learn and gain new skills that are relevant to your apprenticeship but also outside of it, and get paid at the same time.
“My apprenticeship’s helped me in my day to day life as well. Things like project management which I can use in a variety of ways or even skills like confidence in myself, organisation and time management which is needed a lot when I've got a toddler running around.”