Cambridgeshire fire service to ease entry requirements for recruits

Summarised from BBC Cambridgeshire's report · Updated 15 Oct, 07:15 · Archive

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service will trial lowered qualification requirements for firefighter recruitment from early 2027.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service will trial changes to its hiring process for wholetime firefighters from early 2027. The main change replaces the previous requirement of five GCSEs, including Maths and English, with a Level 2 qualification equivalent to two GCSEs. The service said it developed the changes after receiving feedback from focus groups in Peterborough last year, including individuals from different community groups and ages.

Other trial changes include offering a treadmill assessment to those who fail a bleep test, introducing behavioural assessments using realistic scenarios at interview stage, and removing an element from the swim test. The fire service said it reviewed all aspects of entry criteria to ensure each is essential for a modern firefighter. An evaluation will follow the 2027 recruitment process to inform future decisions about the changes.

Read the report

• Fire service to trial tweaks to entry requirementsThe fire service says the changes will apply to its wholetime firefighters' recruitment process.BBC Cambridgeshire · 15 Oct, 06:16

In this story: Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service · Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority · Peterborough · Cambridgeshire

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