Capita hosted a turf-cutting ceremony at its Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh recently to mark the start of construction of new training facilities for MOD firefighters and personnel.
The £5m investment will play a key part in Capita’s 12-year Defence Fire and Rescue Project to manage and modernise the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) fire and rescue capability. The facilities, being built by construction firm Beard, will enable the college to provide firefighter training, such as Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) on several different simulated airframes, along with a wide range of other fire fighting scenarios. Other new facilities include an accommodation block for trainees and an additional fire station. It is expected construction will conclude in autumn 2020, when the first cohort of MOD firefighters begin training at the college.
Capita’s contract with the MOD commenced in August 2019 and over the next 12 years Capita will invest in new technology, fire appliances and equipment to develop a modernised fire and rescue service that will also harness digital technology to reduce risk to the MOD’s firefighters, personnel and assets. Angloco, Terberg and Oskosh will provide new vehicles for this contract.
The Fire Service College, a Capita owned and operated facility, is one of the premier global fire and rescue training facilities. It provides learners with the opportunity to train and exercise in a realistic and challenging environment with direction and supervision from expert instructors. From 2021, approximately 1700 military and civilian firefighters will be trained each year at the college or at military bases around the UK.
Jason Clay, Managing Director for Capita Fire and Rescue, said, “This marks an exciting new chapter for the Fire Service College and the Ministry of Defence’s fire and rescue capability. Over the course of our multi-year transformation programme we will work with the Ministry of Defence to deliver an exciting range of technology-enabled modernisation initiatives that improve service capability and reduce risk to firefighters, Defence personnel and the critical assets they operate.”
