On the cheap

The solution in West Yorkshire is the closure of 10 fire stations and the loss of 102 firefighter jobs, though the fire authority says the construction of five “super-stations” at more geographically advantageous positions will lead to response times being retained.

In South Yorkshire, however, the fire authority is looking to replace experienced staff with apprentices who could be paid as little as £95 a week. There are also no guarantees that recruits would keep their jobs once they have completed a full training programme.

Yet, while South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority contends that these are not money-saving measures, it is difficult to see the logic behind this argument.

Firefighting is an extremely complex job, often requiring split-second decisions that have a direct bearing on the safety of injured people – and the wellbeing of crews summoned to 999 incidents.

And while the public sector should lead by example with the hiring of young people to help alleviate youth unemployment, there needs to be a degree of realism as Barnsley MP Michael Dugher questions the legitimacy of “hiring apprentices on the cheap”.

If anything, the authority should be looking at how it can trim its wage bill and management costs. After all, this is the same body that approved the salary of its Chief Fire Officer increasing by £45,000 a year relatively recently.

Furthermore, the Government, itself, is suggesting “back office” efficiencies, and chief officers covering more than brigade, in order to protect front-line cover.

Tellingly, the Department for Communities and Local Government does not advocate the use of apprentice firefighters – advice that South Yorkshire should heed.