Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service named the UK’s most LGBT+ inclusive emergency service

by Featured News

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is once again the UK’s most LGBT+ inclusive emergency service in the country according to Stonewall’s 2023 Workplace Equality Index.

The fire service ranks fifth overall alongside major national organisations, making it both the highest-ranking emergency service for the third year running and the second most LGBT+ inclusive public sector employer in the country. 

In addition, the Service has achieved a Gold award for the second consecutive year in recognition of its LGBT+ inclusive ways of working.

Alex Waller, Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive, said: “We are exceptionally proud to have featured in Stonewall’s Top 100 for the last 11 years and among the top 10 employers for the last six. 

“It reflects a huge amount of work over the last decade to ensure that our LGBT+ colleagues can be themselves at work, feel included and give their very best to the communities we serve. 

“Much of this work has been led by LGBT+ staff themselves, keen to create a culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Our Firepride LGBT+ staff network set a precedent for our women’s, race and ethnicity and, most recently, neurodiversity staff networks. They are all driving positive change every day.”

This year Stonewall recognised Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s work to engage thousands of people at eight pride events, run a national conference on considering the needs of LGBT+ people when developing services and to recruit more LGBT+ people to its firefighting and fire staff roles. 

Praising the Service, Stonewall’s Chief Executive Nancy Kelley said: “It’s been fantastic to see all of the work put in by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service over the past year to create a workplace where LGBTQ+ staff feel free to thrive as themselves.

“For many of us, the majority of our time is spent at work, so if we have to hide who we are it can take an enormous personal toll and hold us back from fulfilling our true potential. Creating environments where we can all feel comfortable makes our workplaces a safer, better and friendlier place for everyone and helps staff be proud of who they are.”

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is currently recruiting wholetime firefighters to start training in September. It welcomes applications from LGBT+ candidates and those from other underrepresented groups. Visit www.cheshirefire.gov.uk/jobs 

NFCC supports open and inclusive workplace culture

by Featured News

Responding to reports regarding culture in the fire and rescue service, the National Fire Chiefs Council has reiterated that the behaviours outlined are wholly unacceptable, making it clear there is no place for harassment, bullying or discrimination in any workplace.  

NFCC said it is committed to working with all fire and rescue services to support open and inclusive workplace cultures. 

Responding to the reports, NFCC Chair Mark Hardingham said: “I am appalled by the recent reports into behaviours and culture in some fire and rescue services. These shocking behaviours have no place in a modern fire and rescue service. 

“They need to stop – and stop now. Everyone has the right to go to work feeling safe, supported and respected in an organisation that values diversity, aspiration and fair challenge.  

“As leaders across the fire and rescue service, we need to lead by listening and learning – in particular, from the voices of those who have lived experience of discrimination and harassment within fire and rescue services. We need to ensure that the policies and process in place are fair and transparent. When issues are reported we need to act in a timely way to ensure investigations happen as expediently as possible.

“Only by ensuring these things will we build more inclusive and welcoming organisations where everyone feels valued. We also need to ensure people have independent reporting lines where they can report incidents confidentially, confident that action will be taken. We are committed to making this happen.  

“Now is the time to act; to ensure there are clear standards, behaviours and development in place underpinned by strong consequences if these are not met.  

“NFCC Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead, and Cornwall Chief Fire Officer Kathryn Billing said, we have never been so committed as leaders to ensuring we are and have inclusive services. Cultural reform is required and as fire services transform their cultures, those working within them must see and feel the benefits.

“However, we humbly acknowledge across the fire sector this is a watershed moment and change has been too slow and inconsistent. We must and will do more, much more, at pace, with integrity and consistently, to lead reform across our services at every level.  

“There are excellent examples of inclusive firefighters, leaders and fire services that have transformed their cultures. To build from this and sustain the improvements needed we will be forming an independent external advisory group to inform and steer our work. The group will be made up of key external stakeholders and organisations who can provide challenge and support and we will be drawing on the voices and views of those staff who have lived experience. “

The NFCC is bringing fire leaders from across the UK together at an event next month to hear from people inside and outside the fire sector and will use this event and the ideas that emerge from it to inform an action plan, which it will publish.