The first wholetime firefighter recruitment campaign to be run by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service in over six years gets underway on 12 September.

The initial stages of the recruitment process will be undertaken online.

The process will be made available on the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s website – from 12 noon on Monday 12 September, and will stay open until 12 noon on Friday 23 September 2016.

This method of recruitment is designed to make an initial assessment of the potential to work as a firefighter using a range of specifically designed questions examining the qualities and basic knowledge required for the role.

Chief Fire Officer Paul Hancock said: “The organisation is looking to recruit a new cohort of wholetime firefighters. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has transformed in recent years to become one of the best performing and innovative fire and rescue services in the country, acknowledged by many awards and accolades.

“Our mission is a simple one, to be an outstanding Service where there are no deaths, injuries or damage from fires or other emergencies and we are looking for exceptional men and women with a wholehearted commitment and willingness to work hard as part of a team.”

The application process is designed to give everyone, irrespective of their professional or personal background, an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to be a firefighter.

Over the last three months a number of awareness and taster days have been held across the area to encourage all potential applicants, with the hope that we can also attract females and people from black and minority ethnic communities to consider a career as a firefighter.

“We are hoping that this programme will result in a broader range of applications which genuinely reflects the make-up of our local communities,” continued Paul.

“Responding to incidents and emergencies will always be a key part of a firefighter’s role, but there is also a major emphasis on being able to educate and inform people from all ages and backgrounds on fire prevention, community safety and the wider health and wellbeing agenda.

“Working for a modern fire and rescue service offers an exciting and rewarding career and we want to recruit people with a real commitment to improving the safety of their community.”

The Service’s on-call recruitment campaign will continue to run alongside the wholetime recruitment initiative. More information about which fire stations are looking for on-call firefighters is available on the Service website.