Service looks for people to make a difference as they recruit wholetime firefighters

People seeking a new and exciting career are being urged to come and make a difference as Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service looks to recruit wholetime firefighters.

From July 14, applications will be open for a month for anyone interested in serving their community as a wholetime firefighter. Those successful, after the application and selection process, will be added to a holding list.

Assistant Director Simon Thompson, head of operational response for the Service, said: “This is a really exciting time to join Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service. Not only are we one of the highest performing services in the country, but we are challenging ourselves to do more to ensure we are meeting the needs of our communities. Our new wholetime recruits will be playing a key role in helping us continue to keep our residents safe.”

New recruits will be trained at our state-of-the-art training centre in Huntingdon over an eight-week course, where they will learn the complex range of skills needed to join their watches at stations around the county. They will continue their training overseen by their watch colleagues, with assessments at various points.

Group Commander Jamie Johnson, head of wholetime, added: “The role of a firefighter has a much greater emphasis on engaging with communities and working proactively with partners and our communities to prevent emergencies. There is the excitement of riding a fire engine to incidents, along with visiting vulnerable people to help them keep safe in their homes. There is also a lot of training to keep documented and on top of. It is a great and varied career.”

Following the application window, shortlisting will take place at various stages of the process, which includes various written and physical assessments.

We welcome applications from everyone in our community that meets these entry requirements:

• Aged 18 or over (on January 1, 2026)
• Eligible to work in the UK
• Hold a full UK manual driving licence (or be due to pass before employment)
• Have five GCSEs (grades A–C / 4–9) including English and Maths, or equivalent
• Meet the required standards for fitness, eyesight, and colour vision
• Be a confident swimmer
• Be comfortable working at height, in heat, and in enclosed spaces
• Willing to work shifts, including weekends and nights.

For full details about becoming a wholetime firefighter and the selection process, visit www.cambsfire.gov.uk/makeadifference.

You can also follow the Service’s social media channels for regular updates.

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