The first tranche of Defence firefighters have successfully completed their first week of training at the Fire Service College, in Moreton-in-Marsh.
Capita is responsible for training all Defence firefighters as part of its contract with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to deliver the Defence Fire and Rescue Project, and is investing in and modernising the MOD’s fire and rescue capability.
As part of this, the company is transferring centralised fire and rescue training from the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre (DFTDC), Manston, to Capita’s internationally-renowned Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh.
Capita Fire and Rescue has invested in modern firefighting training courses at the college. It is also constructing new facilities at the site, in a £5 million build which will deliver a new fire station and training rigs, while a new purpose-built accommodation block will meet the safeguarding needs of junior trainees. Courses will also utilise virtual reality equipment to safely simulate challenging firefighting environments.
During the first week of training at the college, 25 firefighters from the Army, Defence Fire and Rescue, and Capita Fire and Rescue successfully completed Fire Trainer Extinguisher Maintenance courses and Defence Training Supervisor courses.
Jason Clay, Managing Director for Capita Fire and Rescue, said: “We are exceptionally proud to have completed our first full week of training operations at the Fire Service College. Close collaboration with our construction partners and the MOD ensured this capability-enhancing project has remained on track, despite the significant challenges posed by Covid-19.
“Capita’s investment in the Fire Service College and the training programmes on offer to Defence firefighters are creating better fire risk outcomes for our client, our MOD customers and our own Capita Fire and Rescue colleagues.”
The Fire Service College is one of the premier global fire and rescue training facilities. By 2021, approximately 1,700 military and civilian firefighters will be trained each year at the College or by instructors from the College at military bases around the UK.
