Select Committee on Trade and Industry Written Evidence


Annex D

CASE STUDY—THE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

  D1.  In 2000 targets were set by the Home Office in consultation with the Fire and Rescue Service for the recruitment, retention and promotion of female operational staff. The targets set for overall representation of women within the operational service were 4% by 2002, 9% by 2004 and 15% by 2009. The first two targets have not been achieved, although there has been steady improvement since the targets were initiated. A number of initiatives have now been introduced to help the fire and rescue service meet this ongoing challenge.

  D2.  In January 2004 the Equality and Diversity Programme Board (Diversity Happens) was formed. Board members are drawn from fire and rescue service stakeholder groups with a remit to challenge, support and encourage the fire and rescue service on equality and diversity issues. The Board is promoting a raft of projects and actions aimed at improving diversity within the service which should have a direct, positive impact on the recruitment of women. These include:

    —  a review of the targets and the recruitment and retention strategies aimed at achieving them;

    —  the implementation of core values for the Fire and Rescue Service to support the culture change necessary to encourage and value greater diversity in the workforce;

    —  a review of equality training and the role of equality advisers and the disseminating good practice; and

    —  a programme of peer review on equality issues both between Fire and Rescue Authorities and between Fire and Rescue Authorities and other sectors and local government services.

  D.3  In April 2004 an advisor on diversity in the Fire and Rescue Service was appointed. In July 2004 the Government issued new recruitment literature aimed at encouraging those from under-represented groups, particularly women and those from minority ethnic backgrounds, to consider a career in the Fire and Rescue Service. In September 2004 the Government also produced an on-line toolkit which gives guidance to Fire and Rescue Authorities on how to target their recruitment campaigns to encourage those from under represented groups, including women, to apply.





 
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