Lifelong Learning

Gone are the days when firefighters’ training could all be done with a ladder and hose in the Station yard. And gone are the days when education ended when you left full-time education, most of us as teenagers. Nowadays, most jobs in the fire service – not only those in Administration and the Control Rooms – involve computer work.

A new system of training and development is being introduced based on national standards and a skills framework. Called the Integrated Personal Development Scheme, it includes literacy, numeracy and Information Communications Technology (ICT) skills targets.

The Union aims to help members to address these challenges – and it also believes every member should have the opportunity to carry on learning throughout their lives.

The FBU is totally committed to the principle of life long learning - for members and workplace representatives alike.

In partnership with the Government and Fire Authorities, the FBU has boosted the Union as a learning centre with its Union Learning Fund (ULF). We aim to make lifelong learning is a possibility for everyone in the Union.

The ULF project will help many of our members back in to lifelong learning and also give them support as IPDS and S/NVQs are rolled out in the UK fire and rescue service.

To find out more, contact your Regional Learning Co-ordinator: (see right)

If you do not have access to e-mail you can contact your regional office (ideally in writing or their phone lines will jam up) for further details.

If you would like to be a Union Learning Rep you can also contact your regional office.