Wholetime Firefighter

Closing date: 16/02/2026

Salary:  Starting at £30,384 whilst in development rising to £38,881 when competent

Hours: 42

Basis: Full time 

Be the inspiration. For you. For them. For us.

Step into a career where your courage, compassion and commitment can change lives.

Applicants are required to demonstrate on their application form that they meet the essential criteria outlined in the attached job description and person specification. These include:

– Be 18 years of age by date of employment.
– Live either within the Bedfordshire County border or within 10 miles of the boundary of the county of Bedfordshire at application stage (as determined by Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s mapping system). You will be required to provide evidence of this during the recruitment process.
– Have a full car (Cat B) driving licence (manual or automatic) with no pending issues that entitles you to drive in the UK without restrictions by the date of pre-employment checks. You will be required to provide evidence of this during the recruitment process.
– Have the right to work in the UK. You will be required to provide evidence of this during the recruitment process. Please refer to the document attached for a list of acceptable documents.
– Hold an ICT literacy/qualification or equivalent experience.
– Have experience of working in a team environment.
– Continually recognise and promote the value of EDI, both within FRS and the wider community in which we serve. Making a positive difference every time, with respect and professionalism  
– Ability to work rostered shifts including weekends and public holidays.

Please note:It is desirable for applicants to hold at least two GCSEs at grade 4 or above (or equivalent) in Maths and English. If you meet this criterion, please include the details in your application form and upload your certificates as evidence. If we receive a high volume of applications, we may use the desirable criteria when shortlisting.

How to apply

Before submitting your application, please review the information on our website: Become a Wholetime Firefighter | Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and read the documents attached to the vacancy.

Before you complete your application form you must be able to meet all the screening questions on the recruitment portal.

When you are ready to submit your application, please select ‘Apply online’ through our recruitment portal.

Selection Process

The process timetable is attached, applicants must be able to attend all stages of the selection process, there will be no alternative dates available.

Further information on each stage of the selection process can be found here: Become a Wholetime Firefighter | Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

The initial training course runs for 14 weeks, during which full attendance is required. You are unable to take any holidays or leave for the duration of the course.

Successful completion of the selection process does not guarantee an offer of employment. Candidates who are successful may be placed on a holding list and offers will be made in line with the operational needs of the Service. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks and clearances.

If you are successful, you will join one of our watches across Bedfordshire on our wholetime duty shift system.

You must be willing to serve at any community fire station within the Service. The shift patterns for an Wholetime Firefighter are:

– 42 hour week shift duty system (24-hour on-duty shift followed by 72 hours off)
– 42 hour week day-crewing duty system.

This is a public-facing role, and it is essential to have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English.

You will be expected to wear uniform that will be provided and adhere to the Service’s uniform standards.

This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act.

The appointment will be made subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance at the level required for the role.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safer recruitment, and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer that welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.

As part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, we encourage applications from those who have served, are serving, or are part of a military family. Your skills and experience are valued here.