• Current Vacancies
• Fire Control Recruitment
• Firefighter Recruitment
  • Benefits
  • Calendar of Events
  • Commonly Asked Questions
  • Firefighter Recruitment Equality and Diversity
  • Firefighter Self Assessment
  • Positive Action
  • Recruitment Stages
  • Role of a Firefighter
  • A Day In The Life Of A Firefighter
  • Firefighter Profile: Anthony Weir
  • Training and Development
• Support Staff Recruitment
  • Benefits, Terms and Conditions & Training
  • Interview Guidelines
  • Support Staff Recruitment Equality and Diversity
• Volunteer at Safeside

Positive Action

What is positive action?

• The West Midlands Fire Service is an employer committed to achieving a working environment that actively encourages, promotes and values equality and diversity. To support this aim, we welcome applications from all of the community who share our commitment. 
• Our aim is to have a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community we serve, and in turn improves the service we deliver to the community. 
• The West Midlands Fire Service has a uniformed workforce that is currently under-represented by women and people from black and minority ethnic groups. 
• If an organisation can show that within the previous 12 months, persons of a particular sex or racial group were considerably under-represented in the workforce then they are legally permitted to use positive action initiatives. (Sex Discrimination Act 1975 & Race Relations Act 1976). 
• Positive action initiatives can be in the form of access to training for a particular job or encouragement to apply for a particular job. 
• Positive action can only be undertaken up to the point where someone makes an application and the opportunity to apply must always be open to all. 
• All applicants must go through the same recruitment and selection process and must achieve the same level in any tests/assessments. Any offer of employment must be made on merit. It would be positive discrimination and therefore illegal for any selection decisions or offers of employment to be made on the basis of someone's race or gender.

What positive action initiatives do we have at West Midlands Fire Service?

• At West Midlands Fire Service we have a team of Recruitment Awareness Advisers that attend careers events at schools, colleges.  We also attend careers events in conjuction with community groups to raise awareness about careers and benefits available at West Midlands Fire Service.   
• Please note that application forms are not given out at any of our positive action events as all potential applicants must apply when we have a recruitment campaign.
• A variety of events run in the lead up to a firefighter recruitment campaign.  These events include:
• Female fitness sessions - aimed at encouraging and supporting women who are preparing for the physical selection test.
• Recruitment Awareness sessions - aimed at raising awareness about the role of a firefighter, the benefits and career development opportunities amongst under represented groups.