Tailor-made training
As the professional voice of the UK fire and rescue services, the NFCC’s mission is to continually improve the service provided so that it’s one of the best in the world.
Recognising that 82% of managers are promoted without any formal training*, the NFCC joined forces with CMI to avoid the pitfalls of becoming an ‘accidental manager.’
CMI was tasked with designing two bespoke leadership development programmes tailored to the NFCC’s Leadership Framework, National Standards and Code of Ethics.
As a result, CMI developed the Supervisory Leadership Development Programme and also the Middle Leadership Programme which launched in 2024.
The main aims were to standardise leadership training for fire services nationwide and to support the development of key behaviours essential for effective management and professional growth.
Commenting on the Middle Leadership Programme, Keeley Foster, Assistant Commissioner at the London Fire Brigade, said:
It gives our middle leaders the grounding they need to really think about their own personal development and how they fit into the fire and rescue service going forward.
Key management skills
For each programme, CMI provided curated learning journeys through its comprehensive online resource portal, complimented by a customised diagnostic self-assessment. This allowed learners to gain a clear understanding of what was required of them as leaders and track and measure their own progress.
All the way through, CMI helped us shape the programmes, Keeley says. They really understood what we need as a Fire and Rescue Service going forward, and some of the challenges that middle leaders face.
The bespoke programmes cover key management skills such as self-awareness, understanding others, giving and receiving feedback, motivating staff, and recognising how managers can positively influence their teams and colleagues.
On the road to Chartered
As the training is aligned to CMI qualifications, learners who finish the programme are awarded Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) status, putting them on the path to Chartered Manager (CMgr) status should they wish to continue their development.
Damien Borlase, Head of Corporate Planning and Business Change, said:
One of the benefits of collaborating with CMI is that it’s taking best practices from other industries, not just the fire and rescue service, organisations that really understand efficiency and how to be effective.
A key benefit of the CMI programmes was having the online e-learning resources for managers to learn flexibly both at home and in the workplace, Matt Cook, Project Executive for the Middle Leadership Programme, says.
He adds: “The programme provides the kind of agility people need to better access and self-drive their own learning.
“There’s no one style of leadership that fits every circumstance, every individual or every team. It’s about being an inclusive leader, understanding differences, and recognising how your practice as a leader impacts individuals and the people around you.”