A team of firefighters are brushing up on their skills as part of a bespoke apprenticeship training programme with Bede Sixth Form College.

But, after years of experience in the job, it’s not firefighting skills the crew have been picking up.

Instead, the 25 fire officers are developing their fitness instruction and coaching know-how, ready to help put colleagues through their paces.

“As a firefighter, keeping fit is an integral part of the job,” said Cleveland Fire Brigade’s health, fitness and wellbeing coordinator, Ben Le Fevre. “There’s a minimum fitness requirement that officers have to maintain.

“By working towards their fitness qualifications, team members are better equipped to support their watch and station colleagues with their own training more effectively.”

Officers from across the brigade chose to sign up to the programme; for some it meant a return to study after years out of the classroom.  But, Ben said, even working around the restraints of Covid 19 restrictions hasn’t dampened their enthusiasm.

“The first lockdown obviously impacted on plans and obstructed the practical elements of the apprenticeship training but the college has been fantastic making the transition to online learning,” he said.

“While most of the firefighters would probably prefer face to face contact, they have met the challenge head on and are enjoying it.”

As for being apprentices again after years in the job, that’s not a problem, particularly as the team know they are working towards recognised qualifications.

Among the apprentices is Mark Fisher, Watch Manager for Billingham Red and Stockton retained. He said: “I wanted to get involved in the level 2 apprenticeship as I work with on call firefighters and wanted to support them in maintaining the physical fitness levels required to be an operational firefighter alongside their full time primary employment.

“I believe that fitness and keeping active is an important factor in maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing.

“The support provided throughout this course has been vital in my progression. The tutor fully appreciates that our role is not Monday to Friday, nine to five.”

Robson Leonard, Bede’s trainer and assessor in sport and exercise, said: “It has been a great experience all round, the firefighters are keen to learn, for many they are building on skills and knowledge they already have a solid grounding in.”

The level 2 apprenticeship will see firefighters walk away with a certificate in fitness instruction and a diploma in exercise and fitness. They also get the chance to dust off core qualifications in English and maths.

Robson said: “Part of being a firefighter is being physically fit and maintaining that level of fitness, so it makes sense to have a member of the team in each station with an understanding of fitness to help their colleagues workout safely. This includes having an understanding of anatomy, physiology, as well as health and safety, not as a firefighter, which these guys clearly have, but as a fitness instructor and then it’s all about being able to apply that knowledge.”