Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service's support staff get on NVQ ladder

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS), a local authority Fire Service and part of Northamptonshire County Council, is now offering its support staff the opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications in partnership with Intec Business Colleges plc.

Caroline Evans, Workforce Development at NFRS, explained, “I was very aware that although operational staff often have the opportunity for further training there was very little in place for our support staff. I therefore was very keen to develop a training programme to specifically meet their needs.”

Intec are now working with NFRS to provide Customer Service Level 3 and Business Admin Level 3 NVQs to the organisation’s support staff. A number have already completed their qualifications and several more are due to complete their NVQs soon.

“Intec has been great to work with and are providing a good standard of delivery. They are always timely and have been very unobtrusive, allowing staff to be able to work at the same time,” said Caroline. “We have already seen improvements in the confidence levels of those who have taken up the NVQs and an improvement in their ability to structure their work. Everyone has achieved their targets so far and there is a real appreciation from all the individuals going through the programme.”

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service will continue to offer NVQ training to any new support staff in the future.