Meeting documents

To receive a presentation

The Lead Member for Human Resources and Equality and Diversity introduced the presentation and advised Members that the Authority was leading the way for other fire services on apprenticeships.

Members received a presentation from the Head of Human Resources updating them on the current position regarding Apprentices. Members were reminded that the Authority had approved the apprenticeship initiative in July 2015 and since then, much work had been undertaken. This included the appointment of an Apprentice Development Officer, and an OJEU tender process to appoint an Apprentice Training Agency (ATA).

Members were advised that fifteen organisations had applied for the tender and five were interviewed. Encompass had been appointed in March 2016 and all indications so far were they were fully engaged and supportive. Part of the added benefit of the ATA was the up skilling of line managers as assessors and verifiers which would add to improving quality assurance. 

Members were advised that the first phase of operational apprentices would be whole-time, of two years duration and employed by the ATA. The apprentices would work towards a NVQ level 3 in Emergency Fire Service Operations.

Members noted that the aim was to appoint sixteen apprentices in year one and this would support the current workforce and retirement profile. Future numbers would be scaled up or down depending on organisational demand. Training would be delivered in a blended way, combining delivery on station and at the Fire Service College.

The Authority had recently held six familiarisation events across three sites to give potential applicants an insight into the role of a firefighter and the selection process. 78 people had attended these events and local crews had been fully engaged. The advertisement for firefighter apprentices went live on 4 May 2016 and would close on 22 May. There would be an intensive selection activity with staff starting in August. After training, the apprentices would be an operational asset from October 2016.

Members were advised that the second phase for operational staff involves apprentices employed by local business, but offering an on call service to the Authority. This was in the early stages of scoping and a further update would be brought to the Members’ Workshop in July. There were also opportunities for support staff apprenticeships now and in the future.

Members noted that the initiatives were expected to meet the Government public sector apprenticeship targets 2.3% of the workforce to be apprentices by 2020, subject to outcomes of the recent government consultation. Other services had expressed interest in our apprenticeship work, and Members and staff support had been invaluable in making so much progress.

A Member asked if the sixteen apprentices included business administration and was advised that they were operational apprenticeships only.

A Member asked if the Authority would employee all sixteen apprenticeships and was advised that the Authority was not making any promises or guaranteeing employment.

A Member asked if all sixteen apprenticeships would be from Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes and was advised that a post code restriction had not been implemented.

A Member asked if the Authority had accommodation obligations and was told it does not.

A Member asked if the Authority had a projection of how many on call firefighters were needed and was advised that the Authority was continually recruiting on call firefighters. The Member then asked if apprenticeships would provide a solution for on call staff and was advised that on call availability was a national issue but the Authority was looking to recruit and deploy on call in a different way.