1 Application timetable
Our next recruitment campaign for wholetime firefighters opens on Monday 11 January 2027.
The planned selection stages are::
- registration open: Monday 11 January to Sunday 31 January 2027
- online assessments: Friday 5 February to Monday 15 February 2027
- fitness assessment: Monday 1 March to Tuesday 16 March 2027
- physical role related assessments: Tuesday 30 March to Friday 9 April 2027
- personal statement: Tuesday 13 April to Sunday 25 April 2027
- interview and team task: Wednesday 19 May to Friday 4 June 2027
Find out more about the role
Whether you're ready to apply or just starting to explore a career in the fire and rescue service, our information and discovery sessions are a great way to learn more about becoming a wholetime firefighter with West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.
These interactive sessions will help you understand what it's like to work as a firefighter. You'll learn about the role, the recruitment process, the training programme and the qualities needed to succeed.
You'll hear from serving firefighters and members of our recruitment team, who will share their experiences, advice and practical tips to help you prepare for recruitment. There will also be plenty of opportunities to ask questions in a friendly and supportive environment.
To make our recruitment process as inclusive and accessible as possible, we offer:
- general information and discovery sessions
- dedicated women's sessions led by female firefighters
These sessions give you the opportunity to hear first-hand experiences, ask questions and decide whether a career in the fire and rescue service is right for you.
Online information sessions
Our online information sessions provide an introduction to the role of a wholetime firefighter and the work of West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.
During the session, you will:
- learn about the day-to-day realities of being a firefighter
- gain an understanding of the recruitment and selection process
- find out what training involves and how to prepare
- hear from serving firefighters about their experiences in the role
- meet members of the recruitment team and ask questions in a relaxed, informal setting
Session dates
Wednesday 11 November 2026
- 12 noon to 1pm - Open information session
- 1.30pm to 2.30pm - Women's information session
Thursday 12 November 2026
- 6.30pm to 7.30pm - Open information session
- 8pm to 9pm - Women's information session
Discovery sessions
Want to find out more about the firefighter role? Join one of our in-person discovery sessions.
Held at our fire stations, these sessions give you the chance to meet firefighters, explore the station environment and gain practical insight into the role.
At a discovery session, you can:
- meet serving firefighters and recruitment staff
- learn about life at the station and firefighter training
- watch demonstrations of firefighting equipment and activities
- take part in practical exercises similar to those used in the recruitment assessments
- get tips and advice to help you prepare your application
We will publish discovery session dates here when they become available. We expect sessions to take place between late November and early December 2026.
2 Eligibility
In order to apply you must:
- be at least 17 years and 6 months old when you apply (you must be 18 years old before starting firefighter training)
- be eligible to work in the UK
- hold a full and valid UK driving licence (unless there is a valid reason that you are unable to drive, for example, a medical condition) - you can apply if you are learning to drive, however, you must hold a full and valid UK driving licence at the time an offer of employment is made
You will need to provide evidence of your eligibility at the interview stage and bring photo identification to each stage of the recruitment process.
3 What is it like being a wholetime firefighter?
Being a wholetime firefighter is a challenging, rewarding and varied career.
Firefighters respond to a wide range of emergencies, including fires, road traffic collisions, flooding and hazardous materials incidents. However, the role involves much more than emergency response.
Modern firefighters help keep communities safe by preventing incidents before they happen. They provide safety advice, carry out Safe and Well visits and work with local businesses and community groups.
At West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, we serve diverse communities across the county. We are looking for people who value inclusion, treat others with respect and want to make a positive difference.
As a firefighter, you will:
- deliver fire and road safety education
- carry out Safe and Well visits
- work with local residents, businesses and community groups
- support prevention and protection activities
- maintain the skills, knowledge and fitness needed to respond to emergencies
Hours and pay
As a West Sussex wholetime firefighter you will be working an average of 42 hours per week in 12 hour shifts across one of the following duty systems:
- Group crewing: 2-2-6 shift pattern (2 day shifts, 2 night shifts, 6 days off)
- Flexible rostering: flexible shift pattern working day shifts
The current starting salary for a development wholetime firefighter is £31,539, rising to £40,358 for a competent wholetime firefighter.
4 Selection process
Our recruitment process helps us identify people with the skills, values and behaviours needed to succeed as a firefighter.
We assess:
- physical fitness and capability
- communication skills
- teamwork
- problem-solving ability
- values and behaviours
- understanding of the firefighter role
Firefighter vacancies attract a high number of applications. Each stage of the recruitment process helps us identify the candidates who are best suited to the role.
Registration
When registration opens, you will need to:
- provide your personal information
- confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements
- answer questions about your suitability for the role
If you are eligible, we will email you with instructions on how to access and complete the online assessments.
Online assessments
There are 2 assessments to be carried out:
- verbal reasoning - measures your ability to understand, interpret and evaluate written information using workplace-based scenarios
- numerical calculation - measures your ability to work accurately with numbers, including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
Fitness and physical role related assessments
Maintaining the required level of fitness is essential for firefighters. To progress, you must successfully complete a fitness assessment and a series of physical role-related tests.
Fitness assessment
There are 3 options available for the fitness assessment and you will be able to choose which assessment you wish to undertake:
- 1.5 mile (2.4km) run - Applicants will be required to complete a continuous 1.5 mile (2.4km) run following a short warm-up. The assessment is completed at the applicant's own pace and is designed to measure aerobic fitness and endurance. Interim markers of 0.5 mile and 1 mile will be pointed out to help with pacing. The required standard is to complete the run in 12 minutes or less.
- Shuttle run - Applicants will be required to run continuously between 2 marked points that are 20 metres apart. The runs, or ‘shuttles’, between these points are synchronised with pre-recorded audio which sounds bleeps at set intervals. As the interval between each successive bleep reduces, applicants will have to increase their speed between the 2 points. The required standard is to reach Level 8.8 (VO2 42.3).
- Chester treadmill test - Applicants walk at 6.2 km/hr (3.9mph) at 0% gradient for 2 minutes, with every 2 minutes the gradient is increased by 3% until 15% is reached. The test is completed after 12 minutes. There is no holding on allowed throughout the test.
Physical role related assessments
There are 6 physical role related assessments to complete that reflect the physical demands of the firefighter role.
- Ladder climb - Wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) and a harness, climb a 13.5m ladder, perform a leg lock, lean back releasing your hands from the ladder and identify a symbol on the ground below.
- Casualty evacuation - Wearing full PPE, walk backwards (guided by an assessor) dragging a 55kg casualty around a 30-metre course within a given time.
- Ladder lift - Wearing full PPE, lift a total load of 30kg to a height of 1.9m. This test simulates the physical demands of lifting the head of a 13.5m ladder back onto a fire appliance.
- Enclosed space - Wearing full PPE and a breathing apparatus facemask, negotiate a crawl with obscured vision. Candidates must complete this exercise within a given time.
- Equipment assembly - Wearing full PPE, assemble and disassemble a piece of equipment accurately following a set of instructions.
- Equipment carry - Wearing full PPE, carry a selection of firefighting equipment back and forth along a 25m track within a given time.
Personal statement
This is your chance to tell us about yourself and show how you meet the skills and behaviours we expect from a wholetime firefighter.
We will ask you a series of questions based on our values. Your answers will help us understand:
- your values
- your experience
- your suitability for the role
Interview and team task
The interview and team task assess your aptitude, competencies, values and behaviours for the firefighter role.
The team task assesses:
- how you demonstrate our values and behaviours
- your communication skills
- how you work with other people
The interview focuses on your experiences and how they relate to:
- our values
- the Code of Ethics
- behaviours in the National Fire Chiefs' Council Leadership Framework
- your understanding of the firefighter role
- your knowledge of the work of the Fire and Rescue Service
Medical assessment, references and DBS check
If you are successful, you must complete:
- a medical assessment
- reference checks
- an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
Any job offer depends on you successfully meeting these requirements.
5 Are you suited to the role?
Being a wholetime firefighter is extremely rewarding but can be challenging and involve a number of situations not commonly found in other jobs. Take a moment to consider your answers to these questions.
Are you able and confident to:
- work at height
- work in enclosed spaces
- work outdoors in all weather conditions
- get wet, hot or cold while working
- carry and move heavy equipment
- work shifts, including nights and weekends
- deal with trauma incidents where you may see blood, seriously injured or deceased people
- deal sensitively with people in difficult and distressing situations
- engage with people from all backgrounds within your community to educate and help keep them safe
If you feel unable to undertake any of these aspects of the role, we encourage you to carefully consider whether a career as a wholetime firefighter is right for you.
If you feel confident that you can meet these demands and are committed to serving your community, we encourage you to register and begin your application.
Further information
To help you know more about the Fire & Rescue Service and prepare for future roles, refer to the following resources: