FAQs About Joining Us

Following your initial training, you will enter a structured two-year development programme designed to support you in building the knowledge, skills and experience required for the role.

Throughout this period, you will receive ongoing training, support and assessment to help you progress and develop as an On-Call Firefighter.

You will learn more about the development programme during one of our On-Call Experience Evenings. You can book your place at an upcoming event here.

If you successfully complete the first five stages of the On-Call Firefighter recruitment process, you may be considered for an offer of employment at Stage 6.

Further information about the recruitment journey, including what to expect at each stage, will be provided during the On-Call Firefighter Experience Evenings you attend.

We strongly encourage prospective applicants to attend one of these sessions to gain a better understanding of the role and the process.

You can sign up for an On-Call Firefighter Experience Evenings here.

If you are invited to attend an On-Call Firefighter Induction Day, you will have successfully reached Stage 8 of the recruitment process. This is an exciting milestone and marks the beginning of your On-Call Firefighter journey. The induction day will take place at a fire station and will provide an introduction to the role, the training programme, and what you can expect as an On-Call Firefighter. You will find out more about this during the On-Call Firefighter Experience Evenings you attend. You can sign up for an On-Call Firefighter Experience Evenings here.

Applications can be submitted directly through our website. Before applying, we encourage interested individuals to either attend a On-Call Firefighter Experience Evenings or arrange a telephone conversation to learn more about the role. If you wish to progress your application, please visit our Join Us page here and complete the online application form.

Attending an On-Call Firefighter Experience Evening, or requesting a telephone discussion is the first stage of our On-Call recruitment process. You can book a date on our Events page to visit a local fire station where the role and responsibilities will be explained. The On-Call Firefighter Experience Evening provides an opportunity to try some of the physical activities that form part of the assessment day. Alternatively, you can arrange a telephone discussion to learn more about the role and ask any questions you may have.

You can sign up for an On-Call Firefighter Experience Evening here.

Yes, if your application is successful. This is stage five of the recruitment process and you will be invited to an interview with us.

You will find out more about this during the On-Call Firefighter Experience Evenings you attend. You can sign up for an On-Call Firefighter Experience Evenings here.

Payments are varied depending on the number of hours you agree to, your rank and your development progress. These payments can range from £2,365.43 to £ 4,730.85 per year as a trainee/development firefighter. £3,026.85 to £6,053.70 per year as a competent Firefighter.

If you chose to go for promotion you can earn between £3,216.90 to £6,433.80 per year as a development Crew Commander and £3,355.65 to £6,711.30 as a competent Crew Commander.

You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply and be considered for employment.

Please take note that Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service does not hold a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship

As part of our Wholetime Firefighters fitness tests you will be required to complete the Bleep Test to a level 8.6, as well as the completion of 3 strength tests. These include Equipment Grip and Carry (testing aerobic endurance and grip), Ladder Haul-Aloft (testing upper body strength) and a Push-Pull test. If you are considering applying, it is advisable that you start working on your fitness and strength in advance. If you are successful at the early stages of the process, you will then be ready for the fitness test. It is also important that you maintain your fitness.

Yes you can. We welcome all applications. As part of the recruitment process, you will be asked if you have a disability, and asked to give details of the type of adjustments you may require in order to take part in the selection process and to fulfil the role you are applying for, should you be successful. Each case will be considered on an individual basis and, where reasonable adjustments can be made, your application will be progressed.

Aylesbury Fire Station, Brill Fire Station, Broughton Fire Station, Buckingham Fire Station, Chesham Fire Station, Marlow Fire Station, Olney Fire Station, Haddenham Fire station,  Princes Risborough Fire Station, Waddesdon Fire Station, Winslow Fire Station and West Ashland Fire Station.

An essential part of the firefighter role is maintaining a good level of physical fitness. Throughout the recruitment process, candidates will undertake a range of physical and mental assessments designed to reflect the demands of operational firefighting. These assessments evaluate fitness, strength, stamina, manual dexterity, and the ability to work confidently in simulated firefighting scenarios.

See below recruitment training plans to help with your fitness levels:

There are eight steps to becoming an On-Call Firefighter with Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service. They are:

1. Express an interest in arranging a telephone conversation to discuss the role or sign up to our On-Call Firefighter Experience Evenings
2. Attend our On-Call Firefighter Experience Evening
3. Application Form
4. Assessment Weekend (Written and Role-based tests)
5. Interview and Presentation
6. Formal Offer of Employment
7. Preemployment Checks (Medicals & Eyesight Checks, DBS Checks, Reference, Uniform Fitting)
8. Induction Day

Yes, our Support Staff are enrolled into a local government pension scheme, unless they choose to opt out.

Yes. Although we do not offer operational work experience opportunities, we do have a number of Support Staff work experience roles available. However, this is dependent on the department you wish to work in.

Unfortunately, we do not offer volunteering opportunities.

Yes. Apprentice opportunities are listed on the Jobs page when they become available.

Yes, there are many benefits to being a member of the Support Staff team, these include but are not limited to:
– Free on-site gyms
– Free on-site parking
– Employee assistance programme
– Childcare vouchers/tax-free childcare
– Annual leave entitlement
– Maternity/paternity leave
– Pension scheme
– Ride to work bicycle scheme

Yes, you would be enrolled into a local government pension scheme.

We undertake Disclosure and Barring Checks for employees in all front facing roles, and where:
– Employees are new to the Authority and appointed to a role where a check is necessary
– When existing employees move into a role where a check is necessary and do not have an in-date check
– As part of the three yearly renewal process for all employees with enhanced checks
During the three-year period, if there is anything relevant, employees are required to declare it.

Yes, you can still fast, but it is important that all members of the Service are able to perform their core role while on duty. We encourage staff who choose to fast to discuss it with their line manager. Employees have a responsibility for being fit for duty and, where fasting has affected a member of staff adversely, they must tell their manager immediately.

Contractual hours of work for Support Staff employees are 37 hours a week. Their normal pattern of work is agreed with their line manager, and can be varied to meet service requirements following appropriate consultation with the employee.

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service has a service policy that secondary employment has to be authorised by the Service. Any application for secondary employment from an employee on our Firefighter Apprenticeship scheme will only be considered after six months of service.

Unfortunately not. As a Firefighter you agree to serve at any station within Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service. All successful candidates may be required to work within any of the duty systems employed within BFRS. When placing Firefighters we must take into account where we need to fill vacancies. However, we will review skills of all new employees and try to place them at a station and watch that will help them develop further.

Operational employees working at a fire station which runs a shift system are split into four rota groups known as ‘watches’ – White, Red, Blue and Green. The four rota groups ensure we can provide a continual service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from that station.

Every Firefighter has access to a room which can be used as a private changing facility if required.