Wholetime Firefighters (Apprentice)

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.

Wholetime Firefighter (Apprentice)
Base Location: Brigade Headquarters, Stocklake, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1BD
Salary: £30,384 - £38,881 per year.

• Basic annual wage for a Development firefighter £30,384 during the initial basic training
• Once competent the Firefighter role attracts a salary of £38,881

Enhanced earning potential Access to additional bank shifts at an enhanced hourly rate
Contract: Permanent (Apprenticeship-to-Perm)
Hours: Full-Time, 42 hours per week
Package: Local Government Pension Scheme Employee Benefits Employee Assistance Programme Occupational Health Onsite Gym Facilities

About Us

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service serves a population of more than 800,000 in the Southeast of England. Around 400 Firefighters operate from 19 Fire Stations from the outskirts of London to the South Midlands.

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.

Our Service is only as good as its people. When our employees are engaged and supported, our Service thrives.

About You and the Role

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 Development firefighter £30,384 during the initial basic training
• Once competent the Firefighter role attracts a salary of £38,881

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.

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 10 January 2027
• 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.
• A confident swimmer

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

Please note:

• 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 are currently applying for or enrolled on an apprenticeship elsewhere in any sector, please make HR aware, failure to do so could impact your application.
• Please ensure you re able to provide your GCSE/qualification certificates as they will be required to complete your application

The recruitment process

There are seven steps to the BFRS recruitment process.

You must pass each stage before moving on to the next.

• STEP 1: Online application link (After this advert)
• STEP 2: Online Psychometric testing
• STEPS 3 & 4: Behaviour Workshop & Role Related Tests (w/c 3 August 2026)
• STEP 5: Interview & presentation (w/c 24 August 2026)
• STEP 6: Medicals & eyesight checks
• STEP 7: DBS checks, references, kit fitting (September 2026)

Note that if you are successful with your initial application, you will be required to attend a number of events - Behaviour workshop & Role Related Tests, Interview and Presentations, Medicals / Disclosure & Barring Service, Kit Fitting.

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.

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.

Closing date: Sunday 7th June 2026
Please submit your online application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

We are an equal opportunity employer. Applications from people of any colour, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status or disability are welcome. 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.

Everyone who works for us is required to have a DBS check.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.