National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) direct entry

Conference notes with concern the NFCC programme for ‘Direct Entry’ applicants into the role of Station Manager and Area Manager.

Conference acknowledges that one of the aims of this programme is to improve the diversity of Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) in the UK and in isolation this is indeed an admirable goal.

However, firefighting is a dangerous profession that is only made more so by placing managers in operational supervisory positions with little to no experience of actual incidents.

Conference does not believe that this will have a positive effect on the diversity, culture or the operational capabilities of FRSs.

Conference instructs the Executive Council to conduct research of our own, into redressing current barriers for promotion for firefighters from the equality sections within FRSs and publicly oppose the NFCC Direct Entry programme with the Home Office, National Joint Council, NFCC, Local Government Association and other appropriate bodies.