Do London’s firefighters receive the appropriate training?

In November 2022, Nazir Afzal OBE’s culture review of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) raised serious concerns about the service.

The Independent Culture Review criticised the lack of training given to non-operational staff and a lack of people skills being provided to staff, in particular managers. It found that this lack of training contributed to the cultural issues identified in the Brigade.

Trainees reported that they did not learn about some primary operational equipment, leaving them unprepared when deployed, while a lack of training was one of the top reasons for Black and minority ethnic staff leaving.

In April 2012, LFB signed a 25-year contract with Babcock International worth £364 million for the delivery of training services and the provision/updating of four training centres.

The London Assembly Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee will meet tomorrow to investigate the delivery of training for LFB staff, in the context of training issues raised in the Independent Culture Review.

The guests are:

• Jonathan Smith, Deputy Commissioner, LFB
• Keeley Foster, Assistant Commissioner, Learning and Professional Development, LFB
• Joanna Rayson, Managing Director - Training, Babcock International
• A representative from the Fire Brigades Union

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 17 May 2023 from 10am, in The Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, London, E16 1ZE.

Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

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