West Sussex' DIY video to promote diverse recruitment

Last year West Sussex FRS launched its first wholetime recruitment for eight years. All applications were snapped up within 24 hours and our first dozen firefighters passed out last August, leaving us with a dozen recruits in reserve, who have just started their training with us.

In December I was invited to a meeting to discuss what we could do to encourage greater diversity in our next recruitment drive – launching in the first week of February.

With Christmas and New Year looming, time wasn’t on our side so I decided to focus on roles within the FRS you might not be aware of, which just happen to be carried out by some of our female firefighters. My idea was each individual used in the film would say the same line – Think you know the fire and rescue service? Think again! I deliberately tried to avoid any stereotypes or language that could cause offence.

Two of us worked on our hastily planned film and we involved staff ranging from one of our new 2016 intake, to a Station Manager, and included other less well known roles, such as a female member of our Technical Rescue Unit in charge of a rescue boat.

It’s a sensitive area – but, so far, we’ve received very positive feedback. We should know later this year if it has had the impact we are hoping for.

You can view the video we produced here

- Claire Byrd, West Sussex FRS