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.
| 
