NFRS on-call Employers Charter

Norfolk employers are now being recognised for their support for Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service and can pledge their support to the county's on-call firefighters by signing up to the NFRS On-Call Employers Charter.

On-call firefighters, who make up nearly 60% of Norfolk's rural fire and rescue cover, are not employed to be based at a fire station, but instead carry alerters and must be able to respond to their local station within five minutes of an emergency call. Many on-call firefighters work full-time jobs and make themselves available to attend fire and rescue incidents from their places of work as well as from their homes.

To become an on-call firefighter, recruits have to complete two weeks' initial training before they begin in the role, and keep their skills topped up with further annual training after they have joined. You can read more information on the role on our on-call firefighter jobs webpage.

The charter

By signing the charter, employers pledge to allow a period of additional unpaid leave of their choice (up to two weeks for trainee firefighters, and up to one week for competent firefighters with 2+ years' experience) to any on-call firefighters they employ or recruit to their workforce in future.

The charter is a written acknowledgement of the essential contribution on-call firefighters make to protecting our local communities' safety and wellbeing.

By becoming a signatory of the charter, employers will benefit from:

• Recognition and endorsement from a local emergency service
• Strengthened ties with their local fire station and wider community
• A framed copy of the charter
• Permission to use the 'Proud Supporter of Norfolk On-Call Firefighters' emblem
• Receiving a glass plaque with the emblem
• Eligible for discounts for a range of NFRS commercial training courses

Ceri Sumner, Norfolk Chief Fire Officer, said: "We're extremely grateful to all the businesses in Norfolk who support their communities by allowing their employees to be on-call firefighters. By launching the NFRS On-Call Employers Charter, we're aiming to recognise and strengthen our existing ties with Norfolk employers, but also to promote the benefits of employing on-call firefighters to other local businesses and organisations.

"The charter is a way for us to acknowledge the support they provide us, and how much we value that relationship, and we'll be aiming to speak to as many of them as we can over the coming months.

"Employing an on-call firefighter has numerous benefits, such as developing links with your local fire station and the wider community, and adding practical, life-saving skills to your workforce."

The organisations who have already signed up to the charter are represented below.

If you're a Norfolk employer who is interested in signing up to the charter, or would like further detail about it, please contact [email protected]

Read our privacy notice to find out how we use your personal information.