National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services
Employers’ Secretary, Sarah Ward
18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ
Telephone: 020 7664 3000
[email protected]
Employees’ Secretary, Steve Wright
Bradley House, 68 Coombe Rd
Kingston upon Thames KT2 7AE
Telephone: 020 8541 1765
To: chief fire officers,
Chief executives/Clerks to fire authorities
Chairs of fire authorities/PFCCs/Deputy mayors
Directors of HR (Fire Authorities)
Members of the National Joint Council
26 February 2026
CIRCULAR NJC/1/26
Dear Colleagues,
National Joint Council – Pay reform update
1. The Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services National Joint Council (NJC) met on 12 February 2026 and discussed the on-going progress around pay reform. One of the key issues reported to the NJC was the detailed joint engagement now under way between the National Employers, Fire Brigades Union and Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
2. Building on various discussions, a round table meeting had been held earlier in the month between those parties. A joint statement was subsequently agreed, which the NJC noted and is now being shared with the wider sector:
“A round table took place on Monday 2 February between the National Employers, the Fire Brigades Union, and officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to discuss pay and role reform in the fire and rescue service.
Colleagues reflected on the positive consensus in the room, noting the interdependence and complementary agendas of the three parties, presenting an historic opportunity to progress this work in step together.
With the primary aim being to ensure a fire and rescue service that is enhanced professionally, fully utilised, and responsive to existing and future threats.
To ensure consistency in competency, alongside the opportunity to develop within role and supporting firefighters to build the new capabilities needed to deliver this enhanced professional role.
For a national pay and reward structure that is fair, easy to understand and operate, which meets the needs of both services and operational staff.
Having supported the development of these ideas and the work done thus far, the meeting tasked the NJC Joint Secretaries and the MHCLG team to develop a more detailed programme of work and engagement.
All partners remain committed to keeping these discussions moving forward, to working collegiately, and to ensuring we reach the potential of this unique opportunity.”
3. Colleagues may also wish to note that in agreeing the aims of the discussion in advance of the round table, the following broad objectives were agreed:
a. To develop and deliver a long-term, sustainable and future-proofed fire and rescue service role and workforce reform, that enables the recruitment and retention of a capable, professional and productive workforce.
b. his reform should support leadership and integrity, provide simplified and consistent reward, training and operational deployment models, and enable a valued workforce to flourish and keep firefighters and the public safe now and in the future.
4. Further updates will continue to be issued to the sector.
Yours faithfully
Sarah Ward
Steve Wright
Joint Secretaries