Firefighter Foundation Development Programme

Course overview

The FFDP is an intensive modular course focusing on establishing the fundamental skills so that learners are able to safely attend operational incidents on its completion. It builds on developing learners’ self-discipline, confidence, resilience and adaptability to underpin their first steps towards a successful career in the Fire and Rescue Service.

With a flexible approach, the FFDP can be tailored to individual services’ requirements, with some choosing to do most of their training in service but using the FSC’s incident ground for consolidation training. We have run 8-,10- and 12-week versions of FFDP. Additionally, it can be undertaken in week or weekend blocks to facilitate training for Retained Duty System Firefighters. The FSC also offer the option of delivering just those modules that are required by an individual service for example only delivering the Breathing Apparatus Initial Phase.

In challenging and controlled conditions, learners are exposed to realistic and practical training scenarios on the College incident ground, which can include night-time training. It’s also possible to operate from the College fire station, which is the perfect venue for learners to become familiar with the working environment they will experience when in service.