6 and 17 year old residents of Berkshire from under-represented groups within Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS))
Role: Summer Internship Scheme
Salary: £9.00/hour
Location: Headquarters, Newsham Court, Pincents Kiln, Reading, RG31 7SD
Duration: 5 weeks over summer, starting Monday 17 July to Friday 18 August 2023.
Hours: 9:30am to 5:00pm – Monday to Friday
Benefits: Paid work experience internship opportunity, dedicated support and development sessions, parking and access to gym facilities.

The Summer Internship Scheme is a fantastic opportunity aimed at 16 and 17 year old residents of Berkshire who are from ethnic groups that are currently under-represented within our Service. This is a paid summer internship which will offer successful applicants the opportunity to begin to develop a range of workplace skills to support their future ambitions and experience the exciting range of activities involved in a modern fire and rescue service.

As part of our strategic drive towards inclusion for all, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) are offering 5 internship positions, with the aim of expanding pathways into the sector for those who may have not previously engaged with our Service. Find out more in our dedicated FAQs document and the role profile. Full eligibility criteria is also available on our website.

Successful candidates will join the Scheme for 5 weeks in summer 2023, participating in an internship which offers the chance to earn a salary whilst gaining valuable experience to support their future education or career ambitions.

As part of a small group on the scheme, interns will have the opportunity to meet new people, develop key transferable skills for the future including communication and teamwork, and also receive career development sessions and workshops. They will follow an exciting, tailored programme of activity, including tasks to complete in each department, as well as weekly visits to other operational fire stations across the county.

All interns will be guided throughout the placement by a dedicated mentor as well as Line Managers to provide support and advice, with relevant safety checks in place at all times. See the example timetable to find out more about what successful interns could be doing this summer!

We are keen to support all interested candidates to apply, and can offer flexibility and support regarding travel, which can be discussed during the recruitment process.

Successful candidates must be able to commit to the full 5 week internship scheme and will spend one week in different departments within our Headquarters, based in Calcot, Reading, this also includes weekly visits to fire stations across Berkshire.

The recruitment process is designed to be a fun, engaging and useful experience for all applicants. During the process, we will be looking for different skills and attributes. Candidates will be assessed on the following key areas:

Successful interns will be able to build on these skills over the course of the summer as part of their internship. We will also consider applications in line with our Behavioural Competency Framework throughout the process. This framework outlines the behaviours that support us to deliver an effective service. Further detail is available on the role profile document.

If you are interested in applying for an internship with the Summer Internship Scheme, Apply Now through our online portal.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accessibility of the online portal, if you require an alternative way to apply, such as via paper application form, please don’t hesitate to contact us at HR@rbfrs.co.uk.

We recognise that participating in a recruitment process will be a new experience for most applicants, and have designed it with young people in mind. The activities involved are designed to be engaging, fun and require no previous experience of applying for jobs. Candidates will be supported throughout to ensure that they are comfortable and enjoy the experience as much as possible!

Please see the link to the Job Profile and FAQs document for further information. Further information is also available on the Summer Internship Scheme pages.

For further details about the scheme or if you have any questions, please contact Fayth Rowe, Democratic Support Lead at rowef@rbfrs.co.uk.

The closing date for applications is 11:59pm on Sunday, 9 April 2023.

Applicants will be contacted regarding the outcome of their application as soon as possible thereafter, or in the week commencing 10 April 2023. At this time, candidates who have been shortlisted will receive an invite to the next stage of the selection process.

It is anticipated that the assessment stage will run on Saturday, 22 April from 10:30am to 12:30pm or Tuesday, 25 April from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, followed by an on-line interview on Wednesday 26 April 2023. This is likely to involve a group activity assessment, followed by an individual interview, where we will learn more about you and your motivations for taking part in the scheme. Further information will be shared with shortlisted candidates in advance.

Please inform us on your application if exams may cause any problems with attending selection events, and we will seek to support all shortlisted candidates as far as reasonably possible to participate in the process.

The Summer Internship Scheme Induction Days are anticipated to be held on Thursday 13 July and Friday 14 July 2023.

Please view our privacy notice via this link Applicant Privacy Statement.

At Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, we want you to bring your whole self to work. Equality, diversity and inclusion are more than just words for us. That’s why we are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels included and respected, and where no one is unfairly discriminated against. All applications are considered on merit alone. We are a Disability Confident Leader – if you meet the essential criteria of the role, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Simply: Our community is varied and diverse. Our workforce should be too.

To find out more visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion pages.