- Careers
- Wholetime firefighter
- Recruitment process
The 2025 Recruitment Campaign for Wholetime Firefighters has now closed.
The application process is designed to give everyone an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to be a firefighter, irrespective of their professional or personal background.
The heightened emphasis placed on fire safety and prevention in recent years has not only reduced fires within our communities, but has also dramatically changed the role of the modern day firefighter. Anyone who wants to make a difference within their communities and to change and save lives should come and talk to us or contact us via the website.
It is also important that, as a modern, forward thinking organisation, we reflect the diverse communities we serve. Members of under-represented communities are encouraged to apply, especially women, people of all ethnic groups and LGBT+ communities. Vacancies are open to everyone, regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age (must be 18 as of 31 March 2025) or disability. No advantage will be given to any particular group of people during the application process, however, in order to properly serve Cheshire’s communities, it is important that we are as diverse as our community.
Prior to completing your registration and any online tests please read the following guidance for candidates:
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Wholetime Firefighter recruitment - not currently recruiting
You will be able to register your interest and start your application from 10am on Thursday 29 August 2024. This will involve participating in a simple multi-stage online sifting process requiring you to complete and pass various stages before being asked to attend the next stage of the process, practical assessment. This process is used to help us manage the high volumes of applications we receive for this role, fairly and efficiently.
Please do not be discouraged by the high volume of applicants, this is a highly competitive process for a select number of places each year but we strongly encourage you to reach for your dreams and apply.
Due to the high volumes, the process will be managed online and supported by email only and you will be given clear instructions and how to access support if needed, at each stage. Detailed information explaining how the process works and the dates of each stage are included within the recruitment information published on the Wholetime recruitment pages of the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service website. You must read this guide carefully before starting the online process, it will help you understand and complete the process successfully without the need to contact us directly. Should we need to contact you we will do so directly by email or telephone when necessary.
All applicants must complete the registration and eligibility screening stage to formally start your application. This takes less than 15 minutes to complete and must be completed before the set closing date/time detailed below. From this time/date the online portal will be closed and no late registrations will be possible under any circumstances.
You will need to register your name, address, contact number, e-mail address (all communications will be by e-mail so it is critical that you use one e-mail address only and check this throughout the selection process) and National Insurance Number (please ensure you have this available when you register).
As part of the registration you will also be asked to give details relating to equality and diversity which is optional. We encourage you to complete this accurately as it provides us with useful information on the diversity statistics for all applications received. It is not used as part of the selection process.
As part of the registration process you will also be asked if you meet the following essential criteria:
must have a full car driving licence valid for the UK (with a maximum 3 points allowed),
be able to permanently live and work in the UK without any restrictions,
be aged 17 year and six months or over at the start of the application process,
have a minimum grade of C/4 or equivalent in one or both GCSE qualifications for Maths and English.
must be able to swim 50 metres using a recognised stroke in a reasonable time or must commit to learning prior to the start of your employment
You must ensure you read the questions carefully and answer them accurately, you cannot amend them once recorded. If you do not meet all the above criteria you are not eligible and will not be allowed to proceed with your application.
The criteria are applied strictly and consistently and no exceptions will be made. Therefore, please do not contact us to query the criteria or seek to apply if you do not meet the basic eligibility requirements.
If it is found at a later stage that you do not meet the essential criteria you will be automatically removed from the process.
The online sifting process will be managed on behalf of Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service by HR Solutions Hub, a professional service who specialise in administering the assessments and tests which make up the sifting process.
Whilst you are participating in the sifting process, please check your e-mails daily, including trash/spam folders for instructions as to when and how to access the various stages. We need to adhere to a strict timetable and if you miss an e-mail this is your responsibility and we will not extend deadlines under any circumstances.
Once you have completed the registration and eligibility stage you will be informed on screen whether you have:
passed and will be contacted to progress as per the published process
failed and the reason why you have failed
or that you have been referred to the HR Department of Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service because we require further information from you before deciding if you are eligible.
These outcomes are clearly explained and final and you do not have the right of appeal.
This is a timetable showing the timing of the online sifting process. Please make a note of these to avoid missing your opportunity to complete them in time.
Activity Required | Start and closing dates |
Online registration | TBC |
Stage 1 - Behavioural Questionnaire | TBC |
Stage 2 - Situational Judgment Test | TBC |
Stage 3 - FRS Ability Test | TBC |
Online Registration as detailed above.
Once you have successfully completed the online registration and eligibility criteria you will receive an email from the Apollo system with a link to access the first stage of the assessment process which is an online Behavioural Styles Questionnaire. The deadline to complete this assessment is 24th September 2024 12 midday. If you do not complete the assessment before this time you will not be progressed further in the recruitment process. Therefore, please complete Stage 2 as early as possible to allow time for Stage 3. You will be informed whether you have passed or failed this assessment by email.
If you have failed, your application will not be considered further. If you have passed you will be progressed to the next assessment which is the Situational Judgement Test.
Once you have completed the Behavioural Styles Questionnaire you will receive an email from the Apollo system with a link to access the second stage of the assessment process which is an online Situational Judgement Test. The deadline to complete this assessment is 3rd October 2024 12 midday. If you do not complete this assessment before this time you will not be progressed further in the recruitment process. Therefore, please complete Stage 2 as early as possible to allow time for Stage 3. You will be informed whether you have passed or failed this assessment by email.
If you have failed, your application will not be considered further.
If you have passed you will be progressed to the next assessment which is the Fire Service Ability Tests.
Once you have completed the Situational Judgement Test you will receive an email from the Test Partnership system with a link to access the FRS Ability Tests. These are short tests measuring your verbal, numerical and mechanical reasoning. The deadline to complete them is 14th October 2024 9am. If you do not complete it before this time you will not be progressed further in the recruitment process. You will be informed whether you have passed or failed these tests by email on the…
If you have passed and been selected to attend the next step in the process you will be contacted via email by Cheshire Fire and Rescue by the 21st October 2024 to invite you a practical assessment taking place on 4th - 8th November 2024. The email will be sent by recruitment@cheshirefire.gov.uk with details of the morning or afternoon session you are to attend. If you have failed your application will not be considered further.
We strongly advise that you complete each stage as soon as possible and do not leave it until the actual deadline. No extensions to any of the deadlines will be given.
All the online stages should be completed by yourself alone and unassisted on a computer, laptop or tablet. They are not compatible with a smartphone. You should ensure that you have a stable internet connection when accessing and completing all the online stages. Checks may be undertaken at a later stage in the selection process to verify that you have completed these tests without assistance.
Should you experience any IT issues accessing the online system during any of the online stages please email the support email address given in the instructions for assistance. This support is available within 0900 and 1800, Monday to Friday only. Any emails received outside these hours will be responded to by 12 midday on the next working day. Support is only available via email so please do not attempt to contact us by telephone.
As we receive hundreds of applications, we will not be able to provide you with individual feedback on your results. Due to the high volume of applicants we will only be able to invite the top-ranking applicants through to the next stage of the process. If you do not receive an invitation to attend the practical assessment by close of business on 3rd March this means you have not been selected this time. Please ensure you check your inbox on the 3rd March and follow any instructions to RSVP.
Should you require any information during the online sifting process described above, you should refer to this guide as it will have all the information you need.
We would like take this opportunity to thank you for applying to Cheshire Fire and Rescue and we wish you every success in your application journey.
During this period candidates will need to register their details and answer a number of eligibility questions.
Once candidates have completed the registration and eligibility stage they will be informed on screen whether they have passed, failed or been referred to the HR Department of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service because we require further information from you before deciding if you are eligible.
Once candidates have registered and successfully passed the eligibility questions they will receive two separate emails inviting them to complete the first stage of the assessment process:
Behavioural Styles Questionnaire
Situational Judgement Test
If candidates successfully pass these assessments, they will be invited to complete three timed online ability tests.
Verbal Reasoning
Mechanical Reasoning
Numerical Reasoning
Below are practice links to the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) Ability Tests which candidates can complete prior to attempting the actual tests:
Due to the high volume of applicants we will only be able to invite the top-ranking candidates through to each stage of the process.
Successful candidates will be invited via email to attend a practical assessment at our headquarters in Winsford. This will be a morning or afternoon session.
The successful candidates will then be invited via email to attend an interview.
Those offered an appointment to the role of firefighter with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service will be expected to start their initial course subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks including medical, references and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
Successful candidates will be appointed as an Apprentice Firefighter on 31 March 2025 and will undertake the Level 3 Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship standard, which will typically take up to 18 months to complete.
In order to apply, you must at least possess one or both GCSE qualifications in Maths and English, with a minimum grade of C/4 or equivalent.
Last updated: Monday, 14 July 2025