Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service set to open firefighter recruitment programme
Anyone looking for an exciting career change will shortly be able to apply to be a full-time firefighter in Norfolk, as recruitment to take on this lifesaving role opens for the first time in three years.
Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service (NFRS) will be hiring 16 new recruits, with eight starting in April 2026 and eight in 2027, who will be stationed in the five wholetime stations across the county.
The application window opens on Monday 28 July and will close on Monday 25 August. Norfolk has around 150 wholetime firefighters, otherwise known as full-time firefighters, working in shifts to ensure the Service has cover 24/7 for 365 days a year.
Cllr Margaret Dewsbury, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, said: "It's hugely exciting that, for the first time since 2022, Norfolk is opening up the opportunity for new wholetime firefighters, one of the most competitive and sought after career paths on offer in the county.
"We are lucky to have a group of extremely dedicated and accomplished firefighters in Norfolk who help keep us safe all year round, and it's great that this will be added to with some fresh new talent over the next couple of years. Because it is such a popular career choice, we rarely have wholetime vacancies in Norfolk."
Shortlisted applicants take part in written, fitness, and verbal assessments, before final selections are made later this year. Each shortlisted candidate can request a 'buddy', a current NFRS firefighter, crew manager or watch manager who can answer their questions about the selection process and the role.
Successful applicants will join the NFRS firefighters' development pathway, with an initial 12-week course at the Service's bespoke training centre, before joining watches as development firefighters and completing a two-year apprenticeship to become fully competent. These apprenticeships are run through Norfolk County Council's (NCC's) Adult Learning team.
Chief Fire Officer Ceri Sumner said: "Being a firefighter is about much more than putting out fires: our crews attend a wide range of emergencies from road traffic incidents to water and flooding rescues. We are also involved in delivering prevention advice to schools. It's a more highly varied, multi-skilled role than ever, and it's a job with a real community focus.
"We're looking for a wide range of applicants who are as passionate about serving and representing the people of Norfolk as we are. The role can be incredibly challenging so we need people who are resilient and cope well in difficult situations. If you're committed, physically fit, enjoy teamwork and want to have a rewarding job where you are supporting your communities this could be the career for you."
The vacancies have come about through retirements and promotions over recent months from staff who have, in some cases, given more than 30 years commitment to the job.
The full criteria, assessment dates and answers to frequently asked questions can be found on the NFRS area of the NCC website.
