The emergency services is an industry we’re very proud of in the UK. The police, ambulance crews, firefighters, and even the coastguard work hard day and night to keep us safe.  

These crews are under a lot of pressure, with long shifts every day of the year. If any members of staff are unavailable, it can put lives at risk. Temporary recruitment helps the emergency services to run efficiently.  

 

Emergency Service Jobs 

Jobs within the emergency services are more popular than ever. Although they are some of the toughest jobs, they are sought after by many young people looking to build a career or someone more experienced who is looking for a change.  

Not all jobs within the emergency services are on the front line either. For every police officer and firefighter there is at least one administrator, call operator, and receptionist. Each local branch may have their own social media and website – someone will be needed to create and manage these too!  

This means that there are plenty of roles to fill, and staff are able to change roles as they progress and learn more.  

 

Benefits of Working in the Emergency Services  

As well as competitive wages from day one, there are a number of positives to working in the emergency services.  

These benefits include: 

  • Holidays 
  • Flexible hours 
  • Pension schemes 
  • On-the-job training 
  • Mental and physical health support 
  • Overtime opportunities  
  • Career support 
  • Salary sacrifice schemes (such as cycle to work) 
  • Working in a social environment with a focus on team building  

Almost all of these are universal, regardless of the service you work for, giving you plenty of reasons to consider this career path.  

The term ‘flexible hours’ doesn’t just mean the occasional night shift either. All emergency services offer both full- and part-time opportunities across the industry.  

 

Temporary Working in the Emergency Services 

Many people prefer the flexibility of temporary working. They may be unable to work a 9-5, want to have time to spend with their families, or choose to supplement a permanent career with a few extra shifts in a different role.  

Many firefighters and ambulance crews are volunteers, which is a great way to give back to the community. However, this doesn’t pay the bills, whereas working for the emergency services on a temporary basis is just as rewarding but also comes with a salary.  

Unlike other temporary jobs, the emergency services offer a wider range of shifts. If you prefer to work nights, evenings, or weekends, there are plenty of roles to fill, alongside more conventional workdays.  

 

The Importance of Temporary Staff in the Emergency Services 

So now we know why so many people want to work in the emergency services on a temporary basis, but are those workers beneficial for the industry?  

The answer is a resounding ‘yes’. When under so much pressure, it’s vital that the emergency services have access to a wide pool of skilled workers that they can rely on.  

The main reason is to fill vacancies temporarily. No emergency service, from search and rescue to the police, can afford to operate without a full team. Staffing gaps can occur for a number of reasons, including: 

  • Illness 
  • Injury 
  • Maternity/paternity leave 
  • Retirement 
  • Paid holiday 
  • Sudden resignation 
  • And more! 

Even if you have plenty of warning about when the vacancy will open, you might not have time to hire someone permanently. The traditional recruitment process is expensive and time-consuming, and you aren’t always guaranteed to find the right candidates. 

Once you do find one, you have to spend time either training them or helping them get to grips with a new team, in a new location.  

Temporary recruitment solves all of these issues. By bringing in workers via a temporary recruitment agency, you’ll have skilled workers who are ready to work well from day one.  

It isn’t just for vacancies either. Sometimes you may need staff with specific expertise for a short time or have a challenge ahead that you need more people to help with. Depending on your needs, you can find temporary workers who are looking for a full-time role in the future, or some who are happy with a flexible contract so they’re available for as long as they are needed.  

 

Temporary Recruitment Providers for the Emergency Services 

As there are multiple emergency services, each with their own specific needs and pressures, it’s common for temporary recruitment agencies to provide workers specifically for one or multiple services.  

When you work with an agency that specifically helps companies like yours, it builds trust as they understand your needs as well as you do. They’ll also be the go-to company for workers too – you’ll have access to the best of the best.  

 

The Best Recruitment Finance Provider  

We work with multiple recruitment finance providers that specialise in the emergency services, giving them access to recruitment funding and help with invoicing, payroll support, and credit control.  

Before these services begin, we take the time to understand our clients. How they work, who they work with, and how all prefer to operate. With this knowledge under our belts, we can provide better support for our clients and their customers. 

Recruiting has always been a high-pressure job. When lives are at stake, such as in emergency services and healthcare, this pressure only gets harder to handle. This is why we do everything we can to keep things running smoothly. As well as guaranteeing accuracy with invoices, we also are always prompt with communication and are available for a call whenever you need an update.   

Many providers claim to go above and beyond. At Back Office, we go even further.