Hundreds of young people across Scotland to benefit from new fire skills accreditation

Ayrshire College has been appointed the new accrediting body to recognise hundreds of young people across Scotland who are expected to take part in a course led by firefighters.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) FireSkills Course is aimed at young people between the ages of 12-18. It includes a range of sessions based on firefighter drills and can help to develop key skills such as problem solving, first aid and CPR, team working, leadership and communication.

Young people taking part in the course will receive an Employability Award in recognition of their efforts following a partnership between the SFRS and Ayrshire College.

The FireSkills programme is part of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Credit and Levelling process. It is a recognised accredited learning programme, providing four credit points at level four. This enables learners to:

Build a portfolio of evidence based on activities within informal education settings
Identify transferable skills and recognise prior learning for further education and employment opportunities

The launch of the partnership was held at a graduation ceremony at Kilmarnock Community Fire Station on 27 September, which included 10 young people who had successfully completed the course.

They were awarded certificates by Provost Jim Todd and also performed drills at the fire station while proud parents, guardians and family watched. The ceremony was also attended by Councillor Graham Barton, Ayrshire College Curriculum Manager John McTaggart and SFRS Deputy Head of Prevention and Protection, Cathy Barlow.

“This programme not only equips young people across Scotland with vital life-saving skills, but also helps them develop key abilities like leadership, teamwork, and communication – skills that will support their future education and employment opportunities.

“At Ayrshire College, empowering individuals for a changing world is at the heart of what we do, and this collaboration reflects our dedication to creating meaningful opportunities for young people to thrive in the future.”
Angela Cox, Principal and Chief Executive Officer at Ayrshire College.

Following the launch, the SCQF will be made available to SFRS FireSkills Courses throughout Scotland and it is expected around 400 young people will benefit.

To read similar articles, check out our People and skills channel.