Case Study: Occupational Segregation - West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service

In 2000 West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service set up a Recruitment and Equality Unit to recruit more women into operational roles and make the organisation more diverse and inclusive to meet the needs of the community they serve. This was supported at the top level and included professional Equality and Diversity staff as well as seconded firefighters and managers.

Breaking down barriers and raising the profile of women in the organisation was challenging, but the Unit introduced a range of initiatives:

• Media coverage in local press and on local radio, including features on women’s achievements, eg, top recruit on the training course
• Posters and leaflets
• Rear pump locker ad
• School/university recruitment fairs

Awareness days to give candidates the opportunity to try out the recruitment tests, self-assessment questionnaires, look at fitness standards and talk to serving women firefighters about their experiences

Between 2000 and 2007 the number of women firefighters increased from 4 to 40, with a further 5 joining by January 2007 as a result of the latest recruitment drive. Since the start of the initiative, there is now 1 woman at Watch Manager, 2 women Crew managers and another 2 will be promoted shortly.

The Awareness Day has been modified to incorporate a session where existing women firefighters attend for a question and answer session, both formally and informally over lunch. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has now targeted women’s gyms and sports (football) teams and is working with local Gay and Lesbian support groups.