How to Apply

1. All applicants are required to fill out the relevant application form.

Applicants will need to apply for the Middle Manager Promotion Gateway from our Current Vacancies website page, on the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service website. (This can be accessed from a link below).

Applications should include a supporting statement, and you must be able to demonstrate on the statement how you believe your skills and experience match the Essential Criteria for the relevant role.

Candidates are encouraged to take care in the completion of their application form in order to provide clear and accurate information. This includes ensuring the number of words used does not exceed the prescribed word count. Candidates are encouraged to provide a comprehensive response. Incomplete applications will be excluded from the process.

Completed applications should be submitted by the closing date: 23.59 on 28 September 2025.  

An acknowledgement email will be sent to all candidates to confirm that their application has been received.

2. Internal applications require scrutiny and endorsement from your current line manager.

Internal candidates are encouraged to seek feedback regarding their suitability for promotion prior to completing their application. Candidates are therefore advised to declare their intention to apply at the earliest opportunity to ensure managers are provided with adequate notice.

Once an application is completed, internal candidates will be sent line manager validation form.  They will be required to download a copy of their application,  and share it with a line manager for endorsement. 

The relevant line manager should complete the validation form, which includes a review of evidence provided on the application form and a professional judgement of the individual's readiness and suitability for the role applied for.

Line managers should forward their endorsement via email to operationalopportunities@bedsfire.gov.uk.  

Line manager validation should be submitted by the closing date 23.59 28 September 2025.  Internal applicants should therefore allow sufficient time to facilitate this.

To promote transparency it is also expected that where a manager is not intending to support an application for promotion, a face to face dialogue will take place to explain the reasons why. Furthermore, the manager(s) are required to provide evidence and commentary to explain the reasons for this decision on the form. This evidence will be quality assured by the sifting panel to ensure that it is comprehensive and provides sufficient justification to support the decision.

In the event that an application is not supported, a member of the sifting panel will contact the manager(s) directly to discuss their rationale and/or to request further clarification as required. In the event that the sifting panel are not satisfied that sufficient evidence has been provided to decline support, they will contact the Head of Department for a final decision.

3.  All candidates are invited to attend our Engagement Forum via Teams (date/time tbc)

Applicants can also request an informal 1-2-1 discussion with a member of our Senior Leadership Team, and an informal HQ site visit, which we will seek to accommodate, subject to availability of all parties.  

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is an equal opportunities employer that welcomes applications from all sections of the community.  This is a public-facing role and it is essential to have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English.

This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2023. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act.

Appointment will be made subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances, including a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance , the level required for the role.

 Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safer recruitment, and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People and all staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

At Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, we’re not all the same. And that’s our greatest strength. We draw on the differences in who we are, what we’ve experienced, and how we think. Because to provide a service that serves everyone, we believe in including everyone. 

Be bold, be unique, be you, dare to be different!