Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s decision to join a national scheme to recruit station managers without fire service experience has been criticised.

The service has taken part in the Direct Entry Scheme – launched earlier this month National Fire Chiefs Council – which aims to recruit station managers from a variety of sectors.

It means applicants would not need to have fire service experience or have taken the traditional firefighter promotional route.

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Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has advertised a position for the role with a salary of between £46,000 and £51,000.

However, Oxfordshire Fire Brigades Union described the decision as “disappointing.”

A statement said: “Very disappointing following our members clear dissatisfaction with this.”

The union had previously created a motion that opposed the direct entry scheme, which it said had been passed by a number of branches across Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Executive council member Steve Wright said: “Firefighting is a dangerous profession that is only made more so by placing managers in operational supervisory positions with little to no experience of actual incidents.”

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He added that the service ‘would do better concentrating its efforts on its failure to develop current staff potential and focus its efforts on addressing its identified weakness in developing its own staff into the next leaders and not waste valuable resources, time and taxpayers money.’

Project executive of the scheme Dawn Whittaker said: “By diversifying those in our more senior roles we can invest in the future of our sector, and those already involved in the scheme are doing just that.”

A statement from Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service said: "This is a positive opportunity for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service to form part of the national Direct Entry Programme.

"Participation in the programme will help shape our leadership succession schemes to ensure that we continue to attract, develop and retain a diverse and inclusive group of people from across all roles and backgrounds."