Cheryl Porter, Learning and Development Advisor, with Katherine Metcalfe, Director of People and Organisational Development.
County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFR) is celebrating after its apprenticeship schemes were recognised with a national award.
The Service was honoured with the Apprenticeship Provider Award at the National Fire Apprenticeship Awards 2024, which held was part of the National Fire Chiefs Council Members Spring Conference in April.
The accolade recognises the outstanding data, overall performance, and innovative training delivery of our apprenticeship programmes.
Cheryl Porter, Learning and Development Advisor at CDDFRS, said: “Apprenticeships are extremely valuable to the Service, so we are delighted to receive this award.
“It is a testament to the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to run our apprenticeship programmes and the dedication and effort from the apprentices themselves.”
CDDFRS currently has more than 70 corporate and operational staff completing apprenticeships; at entry, supervisory, as well as middle and strategic management levels.
Apprenticeships run in areas including Community Safety, Workshops, Business Analysis and a Women in Leadership apprenticeship.
In 2017, we launched our Operational Apprenticeship Programme and since then have trained around 80 new Firefighters.
In 2023, our Service was ranked 26 in the Department for Education Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers.
In March this year, the Service’s apprenticeship schemes also achieved the Platinum level of the ‘We Invest In Apprentices’ accreditation from Investors In People.
This means that the Service consistently delivers high quality and supportive apprenticeships that benefit both the individual and the organisation.
