---
title: "Operational Fire Fighter Apprenticeship Programe"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-dc3c8a67-41bc-4765-a829-b8701901de2d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-dc3c8a67-41bc-4765-a829-b8701901de2d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-dc3c8a67-41bc-4765-a829-b8701901de2d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-dc3c8a67-41bc-4765-a829-b8701901de2d.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ROYAL BERKSHIRE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE"
published: "2026-04-01"
---

# Operational Fire Fighter Apprenticeship Programe

Buyer: ROYAL BERKSHIRE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-dc3c8a67-41bc-4765-a829-b8701901de2d

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## Summary

The Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service has awarded a contract for an "Operational Fire Fighter Apprenticeship Programme" to The Fire Service College. This procurement, classified under "Education and training services" (CPV code 80000000), was concluded through a selective procurement method using a call-off from a framework agreement. The contract, which started on 9th March 2026, will run until 8th March 2028, and it involves providing apprenticeship training in Reading, England, with the postal code RG31 7SD. This tender was awarded on the 27th February 2026, and it addresses a significant step in developing new firefighters with efficient cost management, aimed at recruiting twelve new apprentices.

The completed tender offers significant opportunities for businesses engaged in education and training services, particularly those specialising in apprenticeship programmes and workforce development in emergency services. Businesses that are small to medium enterprises (SMEs) would find this opportunity well-suited to their operational scale, especially those experienced in aligning training programmes with predefined frameworks. Participating in such procurement not only expands training portfolios but also reinforces a business's standing within public sector education and training networks.

## Notice

RBFRS has been utilising Operational Firefighter Apprenticeships as the preferred development route for a few years. The Fire Service College has been identified from the procurement framework as the only viable option to meet our requirements. There are nine suppliers in the frameworks. * Capita Group Plc * Cornwall Fire Rescue and Community Safety Service * SFJ Awards The Workforce Development Trust Ltd - Operational Firefighter * Warrington and Vale Royal College * DN Colleges Group * E-Training Ltd * New College Durham * SFJ Award The Workforce Development Trust Ltd * Weston College Initial training can be provided more cost effectively if an apprenticeship model is continued, which would support costs / best use of the training budget of the recruitment of additional staff as required. In total 12 new starters are joining the programme. 11 apprentices starting in March 2026, and 1 learner starting in March who move to apprentice status in July 2026. Below is the breakdown of cost for 12 apprentices plus an additional adjusted cost for one apprentice who will start the Firefighter Foundation Development Programme course in March 2026 and move on to join the Level 3 Apprenticeship in July 2026. The Contract Authority carried out a desktop assessment on the criteria set in the YPO framework 1086 documentation within their portal. The sub-criteria below was used to make a more efficient decision when looking at carrying out a direct award approach.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/67b26c5d-5a07-444f-ab29-c2039f3e2df7 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 27 Feb 2026 |
| Contract period | 9 Mar 2026 - 8 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £222,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ROYAL BERKSHIRE FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE |
| Locality | READING |
| Post town | Reading |
| Postcode | RG31 7SD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ16 Berkshire West |
| Local authority | West Berkshire |
| Electoral ward | Tilehurst Birch Copse |
| Westminster constituency | Reading West and Mid Berkshire |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | THE FIRE SERVICE COLLEGE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services

## Release History

- 1 Apr 2026 at 15:37 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/67b26c5d-5a07-444f-ab29-c2039f3e2df7

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/67b26c5d-5a07-444f-ab29-c2039f3e2df7
  1st April 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

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