Positive action

Statement of intent

Our purpose is to make life safer for the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. To achieve this, we must recruit the very best people across all roles, both operational and non-operational.

As stated by our Equality Objectives [2026-2030], our ambition is to build a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.  We are working to attract, retain, and support individuals from all backgrounds, while developing our understanding of different needs, lived experiences, and beliefs.

Currently, female firefighters, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and LGBTQ+ people are all under-represented in our Service. Addressing this under-representation is essential.

A diverse workforce helps us to integrate and become closer to our local communities When communities have confidence in us, they are more likely to engage with vital fire safety advice and prevention initiatives.

Some of the most vulnerable individuals in society come from diverse or minority backgrounds and understanding their lifestyles, cultures and experiences is key to safeguarding them against the risk of fire.

This applies to all roles, from our inspecting officers to control staff, community safety teams, and firefighters.

A diverse team gives us a broad variety of skills, experience, problem solving, and an opportunity to learn from each other’s differences. In turn this helps us to do the best job we can to keep Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and all its communities safe.

We work towards creating a more representative workforce through ‘positive action’.

What is Positive Action?

Positive Action is a range of measures allowed under the Equality Act 2010 which can be lawfully taken to encourage and support people from underrepresented groups to help them overcome barriers or disadvantages they may face when considering a career with us.

Some people may have never considered the Fire Service as a potential career. Others may not think the role of a firefighter is something they can do or worry they may not fit in.

One of the aims of our positive action work is to remove the barriers associated with perceptions of the fire and rescue service by providing access to information which promotes better understanding of what it is like to work for us and to ensure HIWFRS is an ‘employer of choice’ within our communities.

Positive action is very different from positive discrimination, which gives preferential treatment to people from particular groups and is unlawful in the UK. Positive action is about removing disadvantage, not providing an advantage.

Positive Action within HIWFRS involves:

• Advertising vacancies and opportunities on a number of bespoke platforms and through partners, such as Women in the Fire Service (WFS) and the Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA).
• Being a Disability Confident employer and offering a range of reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.
• Attending a wide range of community events, including Prides, Mela Festivals and Lunar New Years, to engage with as many people as possible.
• Requiring our managers and recruitment champions to undertake Safer Recruitment and Unconscious Bias training to help reduce the risk of discrimination.
• Regularly holding Station Open Days and Community Open Days, allowing  members of the public to learn more about their local stations and what life as a Firefighter might be like.
• Supporting our 5 staff networks, which are important drivers for positive change in our Service. The network groups focus on:
  • Visible and non-visible disabilities
  • Religion, ethnicity and cultural heritage
  • LGBTQ+ identities
  • Gender equality
  • Members of our armed forces

Recruitment

When recruitment processes open, all applicants must apply at the same time and are assessed fairly alongside all other candidates. This includes those who have taken part in positive action events or activities. Every applicant must meet the same standards and complete the same selection processes.

Recruitment decisions are always based on merit, skills, and performance. Our roles are open to everyone, and we are committed to ensuring that every candidate is treated with fairness, respect, and transparency.