Fire and Rescue Services National Employers
Local Government Association,
18 Smith Square, Westminster,
London, SW1P 3HZ
Telephone 020 7187 7335
e-mail: [email protected]
Employers’ Secretary, Sarah Ward
Direct Dial: 020 7187 7335
Website: www.local.gov.uk
To: Chief fire officers
Chief executives/Clerks to fire authorities
Chairs of fire authorities
Directors of human resources
CC: Members of the Employers’ Side of the NJC
8 October 2025
Circular EMP/4/25
Dear colleagues,
Pay structure reform information and consultation sessions
You will be aware that pay structure reform within the fire service has been discussed in various guises over the years, and that a commitment to continue those discussions was part of the 2025 pay settlement. More background information on this is available on the LGA website
We are now planning a series of information and consultation sessions for all chief fire officers and Fire Authority chairs to discuss Grey Book pay structure reform. We also plan to hold two sessions with fire service HR senior leaders.
We want to update all colleagues on the work undertaken thus far, and to understand views and consensus on a range of issues, such as:
- the strengths and weaknesses of the current pay structure, does it work, what could be improved?
- whether the journey from development to competent should be more consistent across the sector?
- should Grey Book pay take better account of specialist roles – such as Control and Protection
- how leadership skills, at all levels, can be reflected in a future pay model
- whether the current role maps effectively capture the functional responsibilities set out in the relevant legalisation?
This is the key paragraph from the National Employers offer letter in April this year:
“The National Employers remain clear that the national pay and grading structure should reflect the demand and role of Fire and Rescue Services in 2025, that the Grey Book pay and grading structure should underscore firefighting as a highly skilled occupation, rewarding skills and knowledge (not simply time served in role), driving professionalised leadership and management at all levels.
The culture of Fire and Rescue services needs to sit at the centre of any discussions around reform, ensuring there can be no doubt about the sort of attitudes and behaviours that our sector expects in 2025 and beyond.”
We are keen to explore what else helps us to meet that ambition. The idea is that they are discursive and interactive sessions. This is not the presentation of a proposal, but early dialogue within the sector to help shape the employers side agenda.
The sessions are planned to run on the following dates:
For chief fire officers and chair
- Thursday 6 November, 14.00 - 16.00 hours
- Tuesday 11 November, 14.00 - 16.00 hours
- Thursday 13 November, 10.00 - 12.00 hours
- Wednesday 19 November, 10.00 - 12.00 hours
- Friday 21 November, 10.00 - 12.00 hours
Chief fire officer and chairs consultation meetings booking form
For senior HR leaders
- Friday 7 November, 10.00-12.00 hours
- Thursday 20 November, 14.00-16.00 hours
Senior HR leader - consultation meeting booking form
To keep things manageable, we will limit numbers at each session. Therefore, we ask that you submit your first and second preferences via the respective Microsoft Forms link above by no later than Thursday 23 October.
If you have any questions about the consultation sessions, please contact us at [email protected]
Yours sincerely,
Sarah Ward
National Employers Secretary