West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service

1 Overview

We now offer an online fire safety awareness course. It has been designed so that businesses and staff can keep up to date with their basic fire safety training requirements in a way that is safe whilst under stricter COVID-19 restrictions.

Fire safety in the workplace is a legal requirement for employers, owners, landlords, occupiers, building managers, managing agents, or anyone else with control of business or non-domestic premises.

Remember, you are equally accountable and liable for site safety, including visitors, customers, staff and anyone who is lawfully allowed to be on your premises.

Using the expert knowledge of our Fire & Rescue Service trainers, most of whom are serving operational firefighters, you will receive the very best in fire safety training.

Courses can be tailor-made to suit your business and are designed to complement the findings in your fire risk assessment. Running them on your premises also ensures that the training is specific to your workplace.

Courses are competitively priced and we also offer places on our monthly open courses at various locations throughout West Sussex.

View and download our latest fire and safety training booklet.

We have a training package specifically designed to help care homes meet their CQC requirements. It covers fire awareness; how to manage an evacuation and how to use the right fire extinguisher, in the right way and on the right type of fire.

We can also provide:

• fire safety advice to assist you in meeting the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• a full fire extinguisher supply, service and annual maintenance service in accordance with BS5306 part 8, for businesses and schools
• appropriate extinguisher provisions for identified risks contained within your workplace.

For more information, please contact us.

Related information

2 Courses at your premises

Prices will be increasing from 1 April 2023. Take advantage of current prices by booking your 2023 courses now.

Courses that we can provide at your business premises are known as 'on-site courses'. These are the available on-site courses:

Fire safety awareness training

This course is recommended for all employees. It provides staff with a basic understanding of fire and the actions to take in the event of a fire, such as evacuation procedures and human behaviour in fire. We also offer dedicated packages for residential care homes, schools and businesses.

• Duration: 1 hour (theory only)
• Maximum number of attendees: 20
• Price per course: £350*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £385

Fire extinguisher training

This  practical course is recommended for all employees. It builds on the foundation of the fire awareness course and will give your teams the opportunity to use the most common types of fire extinguishers in a safe and controlled environment.

• Duration: 2 hours
• Maximum number of attendees: 15
• Price per course: £440*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £485

Fire warden training

The aim of this three hour course is to provide fire wardens and fire marshals with a greater understanding of fire safety provisions, as well as their additional responsibilities before and in the event of a fire. It will cover basic fire safety training in the workplace and provide attendees with the opportunity to use portable firefighting equipment on a live fire.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Maximum number of attendees: 15
• Price per course: £585*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £645

Management of fire risk assessment training

This course is aimed at assisting those whose responsibility it is to carry out risk assessments and provide them with the relevant information and guidance. It will cover all aspects of fire safety in commercial buildings and includes legislation that may assist you with compliance as well as your individual responsibilities.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Maximum number of attendees: 15
• Price per course: £585*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £645

Manual handling training

This course covers all aspects of manual handling and responsibilities in the workplace. It includes the most common causes of injuries at work. It also covers the structure of the human skeleton and how to use lifting and carrying techniques safely.

• Duration: Half-day
• Maximum number of attendees: 15
• Price per course: £585*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £645

Booking information

Prices quoted are the cost per group and are correct as of April 2020.

Other courses

As well as the training courses outlined above, we offer:

• a full fire extinguisher servicing, maintenance and sales service for businesses and schools
• an online fire safety awareness course. This has been designed so that businesses and staff can keep up to date with their basic fire safety training requirements in a way that is safe while under stricter COVID-19 restrictions.

3 Courses held at fire stations

Prices will be increasing from 1 April 2023. Take advantage of current prices by booking your 2023 courses now.

The courses we offer at various West Sussex fire stations are known as 'open courses'. These are the available open courses: 

Fire extinguisher training

This informative and engaging course is for all members of staff. It is designed to introduce you to the different types of fire and the most appropriate types of fire extinguishers to use. The course will allow you to use the most common types of fire extinguisher and fire blanket in a safe and controlled environment.

• Date(s), time and location:
• Tuesday 7 March, 1.30pm-3.30pm at Arundel Fire Station
• Tuesday 16 May, 1.30pm-4.30pm at Shoreham Fire Station
• Thursday 6 July, 2.00pm-4.00pm at Arundel Fire Station
• Duration: 2 hours
• Price per head: £70*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £80

Fire safety course - Care

This course is for all those working in the care industry. It will provide you with an understanding of fire, how it starts and spreads and the most effective ways of extinguishing different types of fire. It will also support you to look at your role and responsibilities in the event of a fire and offer you the opportunity to practice with portable firefighting equipment on a live fire.

• Date(s), time and location:
• Thursday 4 May, 1.00pm-4.00pm at Horley Fire Station
• Wednesday 11 October, 9.30am-12.30pm at Shoreham Fire Station
• Duration: 3 hours
• Price per head: £125*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £140

Fire safety course - Early Years

This course is for all fire wardens and fire marshals working in an Early Years role. The aim is to provide you with a greater awareness of fire safety provisions and your additional responsibilities before and in the event of a fire. It will introduce you to basic fire safety training in the workplace and provide you with the opportunity to use portable firefighting equipment on a live fire.

• Date(s), time and location:
• Tuesday 25 April, 9.30am-12.30pm at Worthing Fire Station
• Wednesday 5 July, 9.30am-12.30pm at Horsham Fire Station
• Duration: 3 hours
• Price per head: £125*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £140

Fire safety course - Schools

This course is for all fire wardens and fire marshals working within school settings. The aim of this course is to provide you with a greater awareness of fire safety provisions and your additional responsibilities before and in the event of a fire. It will introduce you to basic fire safety training in the workplace and provide you with the opportunity to use portable firefighting equipment on a live fire.

• Date(s), time and location:
• Thursday 23 February, 9.30am-12.30pm at Horsham Fire Station
• Tuesday 14 March, 9.30am-12.30pm at Shoreham Fire Station
• Thursday 4 May, 9.30am-12.30pm at Horley Fire Station
• Friday 16 June, 1.30pm-4.30pm at Horsham Fire Station
• Duration: 3 hours
• Price per head: £125*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £140

Fire warden/marshal training

This course provides fire wardens and fire marshals with a greater understanding of fire safety provisions as well as their additional responsibilities before and in the event of a fire. It will cover basic fire safety training in the workplace and provide attendees with the opportunity to use portable firefighting equipment on a live fire.

• Date(s), time and location:
• Tuesday 7 March, 9.30am-12.30pm at Arundel Fire Station
• Tuesday 16 May, 9.30am-12.30pm at Shoreham Fire Station
• Friday 16 June, 9.30am-12.30pm at Horsham Fire Station
• Thursday 6 July 4.30pm-7.30pm at Arundel Fire Station
• Duration: 3 hours
• Price per head: £135*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £140

Management of fire risk assessment course

This course is aimed at assisting those whose responsibility it is to carry out risk assessments and provide them with the relevant information and guidance. It will cover all aspects of fire safety in commercial buildings and includes legislation that may assist you with compliance as well as your individual responsibilities.

• Date(s), time and location:
• Wednesday 14 June, 9.30am-12.30pm at Worthing Fire Station
• Duration: 3 hours
• Price per head: £135*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £140

Booking information

We're currently updating our online training platform. For further information or to book your preferred course(s) during this period, please contact us.

Other courses

As well as the open training courses outlined above, we offer:

• a full fire extinguisher servicing, maintenance and sales service for businesses and schools
• an online fire safety awareness course. This has been designed so that businesses and staff can keep up to date with their basic fire safety training requirements in a way that is safe while under stricter COVID-19 restrictions.

4 Online courses

Online fire safety awareness training

This course is recommended for all employees. It provides staff with a basic understanding of fire and the actions to take in the event of a fire, such as evacuation procedures and human behaviour in fire.

• Price per user: £15.00*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £18.50

Booking information

We're currently updating our online training platform. For further information or to book your preferred course(s) during this period, please contact us.

5 Specialist training courses

Specialist courses are training courses where the location, group size and price is determined by needs. These are the specialist training courses that are available:

Breathing apparatus training

For businesses that require their employees to wear breathing apparatus as part of their day-to-day activities, or as a member of onsite emergency teams. Using our experienced specialist instructors and facilities we create a training package to suit your precise needs. Competitively priced and using either your own or our equipment, we can cater for all of your breathing apparatus needs.

• Duration: 1-14 days
• Maximum number of delegates: 12

Confined space training

For businesses who require their employees to operate in confined spaces as defined by the Confined Space Regulations 1997. This course provides managers and supervisors with an overview of the legislation and the various safety procedures which need to be put in place when working in confined spaces.

• Duration: Half-day or 1 day
• Maximum number of delegates: 12

Prices will be increasing from 1 April 2023. Take advantage of our current prices by booking your 2023 courses now.

Evacuation training

This course provides appointed members of staff with a greater understanding of the action to be taken in the event of a fire. It includes their additional responsibilities with regard to your site’s evacuation policy, as well as looking at your premises building construction and current fire protection. The course can also cover the use of any evacuation equipment, if present.

• Duration: 1-2 hours, depending on requirements
• Maximum number of delegates: 15
• Price per course: from £440*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £485

Hoist training

This practical course, aimed at the care market, covers a range of operational aspects such as; how best to reduce the risk of injury, safe access and movement whilst operating equipment.

• Duration: Half-day
• Maximum number of attendees: 15
• Price per course: £585*

*Price from 1 April 2023 - £645

Safe working at heights training

We can put together a training package to suit your precise needs. This enables employers to comply fully with the Working at Height Regulations 2005.

• Duration: Half-day or 1 day
• Maximum number of delegates: 12

Water safety/swiftwater rescue training

For employees who work on or near water. We can create a training package to suit your precise needs, with training courses to DEFRA Levels 1-3.

• Duration: Varies depending on the type of course.
• Maximum number of delegates: 12

Booking information

With the exception of hoist training, the price per course varies depending on the type and duration of the course. Any prices quoted are the cost per group and are correct as of April 2020.

Other courses

As well as the specialist training courses outlined above, we offer:

• a full fire extinguisher servicing, maintenance and sales service for businesses and schools
• an online fire safety awareness course. This has been designed so that businesses and staff can keep up to date with their basic fire safety training requirements in a way that is safe while under stricter COVID-19 restrictions.

6 Customer testimonials

Below are some of the testimonials we have received from people who have attended our training courses.

"West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service are always my first call for our fire marshal training needs. It’s reassuring to have real experts train my staff and I find their combination of real-world experience, expertise, competitive pricing and friendly manner hugely reassuring. I would recommend WSF&R training to anyone." - Mark Ellis, Blue Helix

"We use FRSCT for all our Fire awareness, Fire marshalls and extinguisher training. The trainer was very informative and knowledgeable in his field. I feel my staff always gain from his training sessions and I feel confident they will know what to do in the event of fire alarms sounding." - Warren Drive Care Home

"Working with fire and rescue was a great experience. The firefighters were absolutely brilliant - clearly very good at what they do! Practical as well as theoretical training kept it more engaging and the trainers were very good at engaging us and keeping our attention." - RSPCA, West Sussex

"Excellent, could not be faulted." - Stanbridge House Rest Home

"Our Science teachers and technicians enjoyed refreshing their fire extinguisher skills – WSFRS delivered an engaging practical fire safety session." - Worth School

"I left feeling that I had learnt something, having operated a fire extinguisher for the first time ever. The trainer kept us focused and engaged throughout the course." - Switch Signs

"I enjoyed learning as a group in suitable surroundings and the practical exercises with extinguishers – great training!" - Anonymous

"This course was great for all our staff members to feel comfortable and confident to be able to deal with different fires within our site. The course was well organised and we couldn't recommend the training highly enough." - Arena Sports Centre

"I am writing to thank you for the fire safety session. The trainer was absolutely brilliant and provided a comprehensive, engaging and wholly appropriate session." - Anonymous

"We really enjoyed our fire extinguisher training with FRSC. It was informative and well delivered. The booking process was really straight forward with very helpful staff who answered all of our questions and needs." - Cowdray Estate

7 How to book a place

Booking information depends on the course type.

Courses at your premises

We can offer courses at your business premises. These are known as 'on-site courses'.

For a list of available on-site courses and booking information see our Courses at your premises page.

Courses held at fire stations

We offer courses at various West Sussex fire stations, known as 'open courses'. We're currently updating our online training platform. For further information or to book your preferred course(s) during this period, please contact us.

You can find the list of available open courses and booking information on Courses held at fire stations.

Online courses

The online course is a way to keep businesses and staff safely up to date with basic fire safety training requirements.

For course details and booking information see our Online courses page.

Specialist courses

These are courses where the location, group size and price is determined by your needs.

For a list of available specialist courses and booking information see our Specialist training courses page.

8 Contact us