Essex County Fire & Rescue Service
Job Title: Apprentice Wholetime Firefighter
Contract: Permanent
Working Hours:42 hours a week
Salary: £28,265.00 rising to £37,675.00 when Competent
Location : Across Essex (you could be posted to any station in the County) *
Closing Date: 23:59 , 5th June 2025
The Role
Firefighting isn’t just about responding to emergencies – it’s about saving lives, supporting people in crisis and helping to keep Essex safe. We’re looking for community-minded people from all backgrounds who are fit, focussed and ready to take on a new challenge.
At Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, you’ll be part of a professional, inclusive and courageous team. You’ll make a real difference every day — and we’ll back you with training, wellbeing support and career development.
Eligibility
What you’ll need – these are all essential requirements. If you apply without meeting them all, your application may be withdrawn, and you may not be able to reapply for at least 12 months.
To apply, you must:
Be eligible to work in the UK
Hold a full manual UK driving licence
Be able to travel to any fire station in Essex
Have (or be able to provide evidence of) GCSE Grade 4/C or above in English and Maths, Functional Skills Level 2, or a recognised international equivalent
Have a valid email address
Meet our vision and hearing standards (check here)
Be able to provide full education/employment history for the last five years
If you need support achieving Maths or English qualifications, free courses are available through Colchester Institute.
The Process
1. Online application
Submit your details and upload a CV or similar document outlining your education and work history.
2. Online Assessment
A problem-solving test (Arctic Shores) to explore how you respond to different situations.
3. Fitness and physical assessment
Please see here for details about firefighter fitness https://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/recruitment/firefighter-fitness
4. Interview
We’ll explore your values, motivation and experience.
5. Practical assessment day
Team tasks, practical exercises and a knowledge review.
6. Pre-employment checks
Enhanced DBS, references, medical checks, and induction, including an apprenticeship skills scan.
Apprenticeship and support
All new wholetime firefighters complete a Level 3 Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship. We’ll support you every step of the way – with training, mentoring and real opportunities to grow your career.
Should you wish to have an informal discussion with regards to the role, please contact recruitment mailbox at recruitment@essex-fire.gov.uk
Our Culture and Benefits
Here at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service we are committed to prioritising and promoting the wellbeing of our employees.
You can find out more about our benefits at https://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/recruitment/benefits
Safeguarding
Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
It is our policy to require all applicants for employment to disclose if you are currently being investigated by any regulatory body or have any decisions or sanctions pending or in progress in respect of your suitability to work for the Service.
You agree to inform the Service within 24 hours if you are subsequently investigated by any agency or organisation in relation to concerns about your behaviour towards children, young people or vulnerable adults.
The information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential and will be considered only in relation to the appointment for which you are applying.
This role will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Disability Confident
We are an equal opportunity, Disability Confident, employer who welcomes applications from everyone and values diversity in our workplace. A commitment to promoting diversity and developing a work environment where all staff are treated with dignity and respect is central to our recruitment process and all applications will be considered solely on merit.
As part of our offer to support all our candidates to perform to the best of their abilities during our recruitment and selection processes and we would like to let you know about a couple of support options you can access, should you wish to, including our employee forums, who are keen and willing to support all of our potential colleagues.
Our employee forums and partners include:
Asian Fire Services Association (AFSA), BEING (our LGBTQ+ employee support network), Christian Fellowship, Ethnic Minority Forum, Men’s Forum, and our Women’s Forum. In addition, we also have a female firefighters operational group.
Further to the above, the Service has a Digital Accessibility Inclusion Group (DAIG) that supports all colleagues to improve their digital skills and provides additional support and guidance to colleagues with neurodivergent strengths and struggles as a result of dyslexia, ADHD, Autism, dyspraxia etc. We want everyone to thrive at work, and so we encourage and enable people to access digital tools to help them perform at your best. The DAIG is a group of colleagues from across the Service that unite to support others as a result of their lived experience and desire to make a difference. They support people with a range of visible and invisible disabilities to identify and access digital workplace adjustments and solutions and may be able to assist with your application too.
Should you wish to discuss support, or access further information, from one of these groups, please contact Equality.Diversity@essex-fire.gov.uk
You are also able to raise any queries or requests for support, including any adjustments you may require, at any stage of the process by email to recruitment@essex-fire.gov.uk
You can find out more about Essex County Fire & Rescue Service via www.essex-fire.gov.uk and about our vacancies and application processes via www.essex-fire.gov.uk/join-essex-fire
To apply for this job please visit essex-fire.csod.com.