Job profile

We are looking for forward thinkers, keen learners, and great communicators who can keep their cool when things heat up!

If you need more, becoming a Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service Wholetime Firefighter can offer you a rewarding, exciting and varied career. Our crews respond to any type of major and minor incidents: from road, rail or air crashes, floods, chemical spills and fires to rescuing people trapped in confined spaces.

When they are not answering the call for help they play an active role in the community through safety advice events, education activities and campaigns. As well as being physically fit enough to pull ladders, run hoses and wear breathing apparatus they need a range of personal skills such as understanding, reliability, flexibility and the ability to work as a team.

The Wholetime Firefighters salary is in line with National pay scales at time of advert:

• Basic annual wage for a Trainee firefighter £27,187 during the initial basic training
• Rising to £28,310 Development Firefighter annual wage until the end of the development programme
• Once competent the Firefighter role attracts a salary of £36,226 (rising to £41,660 for those working on our flexi-firefighter duty system)

We run a flexible and sustainable workforce that maximizes the contribution of all employees to changing service needs. All successful candidates can enhance earning potential through extra shifts.

BFRS Wholetime Firefighters work various shift patterns, these currently include days, nights, and weekends.

Before applying find out what it takes to become a Firefighter visit https://bucksfire.gov.uk/blog/becoming-a-firefighter/ . This page walks you through our vigorous recruitment process. It covers what to expect at our residential Firefighter training and contains links to our Firefighters level 3 apprenticeship.

Who are we looking for?

There are some basic eligibility criteria you must meet before you can apply to become a Firefighter. You must be;

• At least 18 years old by May 2024
• Hold a full UK driving licence (must have passed test by completion of      application form)
• Live within 20 miles of the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes border
• Have Level 2 Functional Skills (Basic & key skills builder function) BKSB or GCSEs in Maths and English Language A* – C (9 – 4). Proof of Certificates held will need to be provided. Please ensure you’re able to provide these as they will be required to complete your application
• A confident swimmer

Please note that applicants who have already completed a Firefighter acquisition or are working within the sector, undertaking a Firefighter apprenticeship will be unable to apply.

If you’re currently applying for or enrolled on an apprenticeship elsewhere in any sector, please make HR aware, failure to do so could impact your application.

We also look for candidates who have:

• A ‘Can Do’ attitude
• A keen interest in the Fire and Rescue Services
• A willingness to learn
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of people
• The ability to work in a team environment
• The ability to achieve a good level of physical fitness
• The ability to follow instructions
• The ability to think about the bigger picture in a dynamic and challenging environment

The recruitment process

There are seven steps to our recruitment process. You must pass each stage before moving on to the next.

• STEP 1: Online application link
• STEP 2: Online Psychometric testing
• STEP 3: Behaviour Workshop & Chester Treadmill Test
• STEP 4: Role Related Tests Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue - Role Related Tests - Bing video
• STEP 5: Interview & presentation
• STEP 6: Medicals & eyesight checks
• STEP 7: DBS checks, references, kit fitting

Please note that if you are successful with your initial application, you will be required to attend a number of events as detailed below:

Please note the above dates are subject to change.

Successful candidates will be issued with formal offers of employment. Once in role the qualification achieved through the two-year apprenticeship period is Level 3 Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship. For more information on this qualification please click here Operational firefighter / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

If you would relish the opportunity of working for an innovative, forward thinking, progressive fire and rescue service, that encourages developing a range of skills to help serve the community, then we would love to hear from you.

Everyone who works for us is required to have a DBS check. If you have any queries or concerns regarding this, please contact HR@bucksfire.gov.uk. 

If there are any adaptions or adjustments, we can make to help you in your application, or with our recruitment process, please contact us via e-mail or telephone. 

It is our philosophy to embed equality, diversity, fairness, and inclusion into everything that we do. We view this as fundamental to achieve our vision of making Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes the safest areas in England in which to live, work and travel.

Abatement & protected pension: If are in receipt of a Firefighter’s pension, before taking up employment with Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority you are required to notify Human Resources as Abatement Rules may apply.