FOI Request 2198

Subject: Training and Exercising for Retained Firefighter Personnel

Status: Complete

Date received: August 2025

Question Asked:

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would be grateful if you could provide the following information:

(For the purpose of this request, “practical training” refers to scenario-based, simulation, or live exercise activities, as opposed to purely theoretical or classroom-based training)

Staffing and Roles

What is the total number of retained firefighting staff in your brigade, including ranks?
Do you have a designated training and exercising manager for retained operational staff (or a general operational firefighting training and exercising manager)?
a. If yes, what are their relevant qualifications or training credentials?
b. When was the role established?
c. Is it a permanent, full-time position?
Is there a designated budget for training and exercising for retained crews?
a. If yes, what percentage of the overall department budget does this represent?

Training Policy

Are there policies or procedures in place to ensure operational cover for uninterrupted training for retained crews (e.g., operational cover during exercises)?
a. If yes, please provide a copy of the relevant policy if possible.
b. If not, is training typically conducted during on-call periods with potential for interruptions?
Has your service piloted or implemented any digital/simulation-based tools for retained firefighting training or exercising, including virtual reality technologies? Please give details if yes.

Practical Training Participation

Between 31st July 2023 to 31st July 2025:

How many times have retained crews participated in practical training exercises involving only their own station?
How many times have retained crews participated in practical training exercises involving other departments or teams within your brigade?
How many times have retained crews participated in practical training with other fire brigades?
How many times have retained crews participated in practical training with other agencies, such as Police or Ambulance services?

Our Response:

Please see our response below to your Freedom of Information Request.

Staffing and Roles

What is the total number of retained firefighting staff in your brigade, including ranks?
As of 1st August 2025, we have a total of 186 staff in On-Call Firefighter positions across a range of hourly contracts. These are broken down into the following ranks:
Watch Manager - 14
Crew Manager - 35
Firefighter - 137
Note, CFRS does not use the term “retained” internally.
Do you have a designated training and exercising manager for retained operational staff (or a general operational firefighting training and exercising manager)?
The Service has an Operational Training and Learning Team which is manged by a full time Group Manager. They are supported by a Station Manager, who manage the instructional delivery staff on a day-to-day basis. They manage all aspects of operational training for both Wholetime and On-Call staff.
a. If yes, what are their relevant qualifications or training credentials?
There are no specific requirements listed for this role provided they meet the overall selection criteria for promotion to the relevant rank (this includes IFE Level 3 Certificate in Fire Service Operations and Incident Commander and to be a qualified Assessor (Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA)).
The Station Manager has also completed a Level 3 Award in Training and Education.
b. When was the role established?
Both roles in their current format were created in July 2024 following a comprehensive organisational re-structure across middle management positions. However, a Group Manager with similar responsibilities has been within the Service structure for an indefinite period.
c. Is it a permanent, full-time position?
Yes
Is there a designated budget for training and exercising for retained crews?
a. If yes, what percentage of the overall department budget does this represent?
No; there is an overall budget for operational training in 25/26 FY of £1.44m, however this is not broken down for spend between Wholetime and On-Call staff.

Training Policy

Are there policies or procedures in place to ensure operational cover for uninterrupted training for retained crews (e.g., operational cover during exercises)?
All training and exercises for which it is beneficial to take on appliance of immediate response duties are managed within the constraints of our fire cover model. This requires an absolute minimum of 18 fire engines (out of 35) to be available for immediate deployment, and at specific key locations across the Service area. Resources additional to this 18 can be booked on ‘Training Reserve’ with our Fire Control room to attend exercises and practical training. They remain available for mobilisation in a delayed capacity should they need to re-called for a large incident or increased operational activity. For context, we have an average of 24/35 fire engines available during daytime hours and 27 overnight; thus providing capacity for a reasonable number of pumps to be committed to training whilst providing appropriate fire cover using other appliances.
a. If yes, please provide a copy of the relevant policy if possible.
There is no specific policy document available. Please see explanation above.
b. If not, is training typically conducted during on-call periods with potential for interruptions?
It should be noted that that above is only used for training delivered at our central Training Centre or exercises. When completing local station based training, On-Call crews would be expected to remain available for immediate mobilisation.
Has your service piloted or implemented any digital/simulation-based tools for retained firefighting training or exercising, including virtual reality technologies? Please give details if yes.
The Service has a virtual reality incident command training suite which uses immersive pods to undertake assessments and training for all Crew and Watch Managers. The level and frequency of the training does not differentiate between Wholetime and On-Call managers.

Practical Training Participation

Between 31st July 2023 to 31st July 2025:

How many times have retained crews participated in practical training exercises involving only their own station?
During the reference period On-Call crews have participated in:
- 1817 weekly drill nights
- 391 Firefighter development training sessions
- 136 Additional Weekly Drills
To determine whether each of these sessions were conducted as a single station, or with other crews would require a manual assessment of each individual record within our training and payroll system and assessment of free text time comments and activity times.
How many times have retained crews participated in practical training exercises involving other departments or teams within your brigade?
See response above - this information cannot be provided.
How many times have retained crews participated in practical training with other fire brigades?
On-Call crews have been involved in 14 exercises with neighbouring FRSs over the reference period.
How many times have retained crews participated in practical training with other agencies, such as Police or Ambulance services?
On-Call crews have been involved in 7 multi-agency exercises over the reference period.

Outcome: Information Provided

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO

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Last updated: Friday, 23 January 2026