Worcester Jobcentre Plus organised a successful open day for budding fire fighters on Saturday 20 January. Over 50 people attended the Jobcentre Plus office where representatives from Hereford and Worcester Fire Service held information sessions and carried out ‘grip tests’ to test physical strength.

Lin Jenkins, vacancy services manager at Worcester Jobcentre Plus, said: “We are pleased to be working closely with the Fire Service to help them recruit new fire fighters for the Worcester station. There was a good turnout at the open day and prospective applicants gained lots of useful information about being a fire fighter and how to apply for posts. But if you missed the open day it’s not too late to find out more or apply for the vacancies because the deadline for applications is 6th February.”

Hereford and Worcester Fire Service is especially keen to recruit female fire fighters and people from minority ethnic communities. At least 6 vacancies are currently available.

Anyone interested in applying for the vacancies can visit the Jobcentre Plus website, and quote reference WOC49309 to view the vacancy online. Or telephone 01905 684678 to obtain an information pack and application form.

Notes for Editors:

1. Photographs of fire fighters demonstrating ‘grip tests’ and applicants attending the information sessions are available from the DWP Regional Press Office on the telephone number below. 

2. Jobcentre Plus, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, brings together employment and benefit services for people of working age and is a key element in the Government's objectives to help people based on ‘Work for those who can, support for those who cannot’. It provides a professional and modern service to meet the diverse needs of employers and those seeking work, including:

• Personal advisers to provide practical support and advice to help those in need find and keep work, including training provision and benefits guidance;
  
• A dedicated service to support employers in filling their vacancies quickly and successfully;
  
• Ability to place and search for jobs both online and over the phone (via Jobpoints and through Jobseeker Direct and Employer Direct); and 
  
• Swift, secure and professional access to benefits for those entitled to them.

3. Customers can access Jobcentre Plus services through around 1,000 locations across Great Britain, including over 800 newly refurbished Jobcentre Plus offices. Touch-screen terminals and Customer Access Phones are also available in a further 120 sites such as libraries and local authority premises. Jobcentre Plus works with over 275,000 employers to place 17,000 people into work every week. Over 400,000 vacancies are listed each week on its website and more than 4m job search requests are received, making it the number one UK recruitment website.
 
Media enquiries  0121 626 2991 - Simon Ballinger, DWP Regional Press Office

Out of hours: 07659 108883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk