Latest news with #JonHenderson
Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Times
Fire chiefs ‘squander' £500,000 on ‘virtue signalling'
Fire chiefs have been accused of 'squandering' public money on 'virtue-signalling exercises' after it emerged that Scottish Fire and Rescue has spent almost £500,000 on salaries for diversity and inclusion roles in the past three years. This outlay comes despite significant operational challenges for the service, including the potential closure of fire stations and crumbling infrastructure. The figures were obtained through a freedom of information request by the Scottish Conservatives. • 'Unsafe' concrete found in fire and police stations across Scotland The audit shows that £458,121 was allocated to salaries for diversity-related roles since 2023. Further expenditures included £8,937 for membership of the Diversity Champion scheme with the charity Stonewall and £6,000 for a celebratory event for Scottish women in the fire service, for a total of £484,888 since 2023. The Scottish fire service has had its annual budget cut by £57 million in real terms over the past decade, and further demands for cost reductions have led to proposals to close up to 13 fire stations across the country. Additionally, a number of fire stations are in disrepair, with almost half of the service's 356 stations categorised as being in 'poor' or 'bad' condition. A recent report revealed that 18 Scottish fire stations do not have running water, forcing firefighters to rely on wet wipes for personal hygiene and to clean equipment. The fleet of fire engines is also deteriorating, with almost three quarters of the vehicles being more than a decade old. Sharon Dowey, the Scottish Conservative MSP and shadow community safety minister, condemned the spending, telling The Mail on Sunday that the service 'can ill-afford to be shelling out on woke DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] jobs and virtue-signalling exercises'. She urged SNP ministers to 'ensure that crucial resources are being used appropriately rather than being squandered in this vein'. Jon Henderson, the director of prevention at the Scottish fire service, defended the spending, stating that 'commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our working culture'. He explained that diversity-related spending and capital budgets for infrastructure were funded through different sources and could not be directly compared. Henderson acknowledged the 'insurmountable capital backlog of more than £800 million' needed for repairs but maintained that the service is committed to advancing both its diversity goals and its operational needs simultaneously, saying it was 'not about prioritising one area over the other'.
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Applications to become firefighter in Scotland to open soon
Applications will soon open for full-time firefighter roles across Scotland. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) will begin accepting applications on August 14 and is encouraging anyone interested to start preparing now. Jon Henderson, assistant chief officer and director of prevention at SFRS, said: "We want people to understand what the role truly involves, from emergency response to prevention work in our communities. (Image: Supplied) "This is more than a job, it's a commitment to helping others, working as a team, and protecting the communities of Scotland every single day. "We strongly encourage anyone interested to take time to ensure their application reflects their motivation, understanding of the role and suitability and apply as soon as it opens." Read more: Rangers 'agree terms' with defender - but so do rival bidder Due to a limited number of positions, SFRS will cap the number of applications and will close the advert once that limit is reached. Full details on how to apply and where to access support is available at The recruitment campaign will feature real-life stories from serving firefighters to give potential applicants insight into the day-to-day realities of the job. (Image: Supplied) To help candidates prepare, SFRS recommends visiting its careers website, attending engagement sessions, and following its social media channels for updates and personal stories from serving firefighters. The selection process will include physical assessments, interviews, and a medical evaluation. There will also be an online session which will provide an overview of the role and the recruitment process. The session, which will be delivered on Teams, will take place on August 11, from 7pm to 8pm. Register here. SFRS aims to build a diverse workforce and is particularly encouraging applications from women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, who are currently underrepresented in the service. While recruitment is open across Scotland, not all areas currently have vacancies, and candidates are advised to consider where they are willing to work before applying. Further recruitment campaigns are expected in the next six to 12 months. Applicants are advised to check the SFRS website and social media for updates and detailed information on the application process and available support.
