Career Pathways
Read on to learn more about career pathways in UK fire and rescue services.
The UK Fire and Rescue Service works hard every day to keep our communities safe. Although firefighters responding to emergencies are the most visible members of our teams, there are many other rewarding roles that you might not know about.
On these pages, you can explore a wide variety of career opportunities across the service. Whether you want to join as a firefighter, answer emergency calls, or work in roles such as community safety, fire prevention, or support functions like HR, finance, or digital services, there’s a place for you.
If you’re already working in fire and rescue, this page can help you discover new career pathways, resources, and opportunities to support your development and progression.
We welcome people from all backgrounds. You don’t need previous experience in emergency services to join us. Through apprenticeships, volunteering, Fire Cadets, on-call roles, and direct entry schemes, you can find a pathway into a rewarding career, gaining skills and qualifications along the way.
The work of fire and rescue services is guided by the Core Code of Ethics, which defines the behaviours and values expected in our service. This helps us to build an inclusive, supportive culture where everyone feels valued and respected. Understanding and following these values is essential, no matter which role you take.
On these pages, you’ll find detailed information about the roles and departments available, alongside real stories from people working across the service. You’ll also discover resources to help you start your career or take the next step in your development.
Whether you’re starting your career or looking for a new opportunity, explore these interactive pathways to find out how you can contribute to the Fire and Rescue Service.
Your Career
New to the fire service?
If you’re new to the UK fire and rescue service, or wanting to learn more about entry points and opportunities, this is the place for you. You’ll be able to learn more about the sector and explore options for getting involved.
Departments and Roles
Ensuring that a fire and rescue service can protect their community requires the efforts of many people beyond firefighters. From control room employees who field calls, to communications professionals that ensure safety messaging reaches who it needs to, there are many different departments and roles that keep fire and rescue services running. Here, you can explore the different departments and roles you may find at your local fire and rescue service.
Personal Development Planning
Whatever your development, leadership or career goal, Personal Development Planning  is a structured process that will help you create an action plan of goals for self-improvement, growth, learning and development and help you on your career journey. Here, you can learn how to create your personal development plan and refine it as you progress.Â
Developing Leaders
Anyone who positively supports, inspires, and influences others is displaying leadership qualities. Leadership has never been more important within the fire and rescue service, and it can be demonstrated at any level and in any role. It is the responsibility of each of us to display and promote good behaviours. Here, you can learn more about leadership development and explore NFCC resources that can help you in your leadership journey.Â
Career Journeys
Sometimes it’s difficult to imagine what your career journey could look like with some many options. Here, you can explore some different examples of career journeys in UK fire and rescue services, and hear career stories from real FRS colleagues.
