Frequently Asked Questions

You can find the link to the form via the Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue website on the ‘Join Us’ page or directly through greater.jobs (external website).

Please email JoinUs@manchesterfire.gov.uk and a member of the recruitment team will contact you to discuss.

Yes, each recruitment campaign requires candidates to attend an eligibility event/ open day to enable them to receive the application.

Taster Day invites will only be emailed out as and when they are arranged. Please be patient while waiting for a Taster Day as there will be lots of opportunities to attend.

It is also your responsibility to ensure you monitor your greater.jobs account inbox and that your contact details (email address) is correct and kept up to date.

Once you have attended a Taster Day, you will be eligible to apply to the Wholetime Firefighter application form as and when the recruitment is live.

Internal candidates will find the link to the application form through InsideGMCA and external candidates will receive the link to the application via the email address we have already contacted you with previously.

There is huge interest in the Wholetime Firefighter role and due to this high volume, we might not be able to accommodate everybody at Taster Days.

However, there will be more opportunities with future recruitment planned and your details will remain on our Greater.Jobs database for us to contact you with any updates.

The recruitment process can take around six months. We currently run three courses a year, you could be waiting a number of months before being allocated a course. Once allocated a course, you will then start your pre – employment checks/ onboarding, to include your medical, DBS check, references and uniform fitting.

The minimum standard required for the bleep test is level 8.8. The bleep test assessment will finish at 8.8, however once on your recruits course you will be expected to run to higher levels.

Candidates successful in the recruitment process will be advised they must be aiming towards level 10 in the bleep test, prior to starting their initial training course.

You need to be 18 years or older at the time of application and there is no upper limit.

When the Wholetime Firefighter recruitment advert is live, internal candidates will be able to access the link through the intranet (InsideGMCA) using the ‘Jobs’ tile in key info. It will also be listed on the internal jobs page on Greater.jobs.

No. We welcome applications from everyone no matter their age, gender, sexuality or ethnicity.

Expressions of interest forms are welcomed from anyone passionate about keeping the people of Greater Manchester safe and from this we will only recruit the very best.

This role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

All applicants are obliged to disclose any convictions cautions, reprimands or final warnings that are not “protected” in their application forms.

Please be assured that any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest of confidence and will be reviewed on an individual basis in relation to the job.

This means that you will not necessarily be excluded from a job offer process if you have a criminal record; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.

For more information on what is classed as ‘protected’ please visit the Ministry of Justice Website (external website)

Due to Health and Safety reasons, GMFRS requires candidates to remove all piercings. However, tattoos are acceptable, as long as they are not considered offensive.

No, candidates applying for the Wholetime Firefighter role are applying to work anywhere in Greater Manchester. Although we will try to place you as close to home as possible, placements will be assigned as per organisational need and where there are vacancies.

With both the Taster Day and fitness tests throughout the recruitment process, you will be required to sign a declaration of health prior to participating. Therefore, we often recommend candidates who are currently injured do not apply at this time, as there will be future opportunities available.

However, if you would like to speak to a member of the team please email the recruitment team at JoinUs@manchesterfire.gov.uk

Yes, candidates can apply for the Wholetime Firefighter role without a full UK driving licence. However, within the two-year (minimum) apprenticeship, you must pass their driving test prior to taking their end point assessment.

Please email your details (name and contact number) to JoinUs@manchesterfire.gov.uk and a member of the recruitment team will contact you to discuss.

Visit our medical screening for Firefighter recruitment page to find out more about the medical screening and standards.

All candidates are required to sit a Functional Skills Level 1 Maths and English assessment in the recruitment process, so we can determine your working level.

However, if you have your Level 2 functional skills equivalent GCSE qualifications, you will not be required to sit your Level 2 functional skills assessment in your two-year apprenticeship.

No, the role is open to everybody.