Berkshire's fire service is looking for new recruits, with the announcement revealing what it takes to be one of the emergency workers, often first on the scene.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is now accepting applications for Wholetime Firefighter positions.

Applications for Wholetime Firefighter Apprentices will be open until Monday, January 15, 2024, and applications for Firefighter Transferees will be open until Monday, January 29, 2024.

The service has described the roles as "varied" and as well as responding to a range of incidents, it includes providing fire safety advice and engaging with local communities, through safety advice events, education activities and campaigns.

Anyone, from any background or walk of life can apply to be a Firefighter Apprentice, so long as they are new to the role. 

Successful applicants will need to complete a residential training course lasting at least eight weeks, followed by approximately five weeks of training at the Training Centre at Whitley Wood, Reading. The development will then continue when placed at a fire station.

Applications are assessed solely on merit and to the same standards.

Nikki Richards, Deputy Chief Executive at RBFRS, said: “Over the past few weeks, the Service has been running career sessions to showcase the challenging and highly rewarding career of a Wholetime Firefighter.

“We were really pleased both by the number of people taking part and levels of engagement from candidates attending the sessions. With those initial sessions complete, we are now delighted to open the recruitment window for applications.

“If you missed these sessions, there is still a wide range of material available on our website to help you prepare your application and find out about the benefits of joining our team.

"If you’re looking for a dynamic role where you can make a positive difference to the community, we would love to hear from you.”

All job vacancies can be found on the RBFRS website.