10 Firefighters Pass-Out At Training Centre

Ten firefighters have officially joined fire stations across Nottinghamshire after passing out at a ceremony held at the Service Development Centre (SDC) on Tuesday 7 April 2026.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service marked the occasion alongside friends, family members, and colleagues, who gathered at the training centre to see the firefighters demonstrate the operational skills they have developed during their initial training. 

The ten firefighters – combined of nine on-call firefighters and one wholetime, from three seperate training courses – have all now completed 13 weeks of training covering a range of core firefighting skills, all of which they’ll go onto use when serving their local communities.

The event began with a practical drill, giving guests an insight into the demands of the role and the teamwork required when responding to real incidents across the county, before the group formally passed out and received their certificates. 

Chief Fire Officer Craig Parkin DL congratulated each of the firefighters on their commitment and determination, acknowledging the significant time required to train as an on-call firefighter while continuing to work and live within their local communities. He also thanked the guests, as without their support, our staff wouldn’t be able to fulfil their on-call roles to their full potential. 

He said: “I found my professional home in the fire and rescue service, and I sincerely hope the firefighters passing out today have found theirs too. 

“I’ve seen first-hand the sacrifices made by our on-call colleagues across Nottinghamshire, and none of that would be possible without the unwavering support of their families and loved ones.

“Our job is built around ‘One Team’ – one of our core values – and during this pass-out I’ve seen trainees from three different courses come together, work incredibly hard to achieve the same outcome, just like they would on the incident ground.”

He added: “Today marks one of the biggest milestones of your lives. I hope it brings you lasting memories, pride in what you’ve achieved, and the start of a fulfilling career. 

“Well done, congratulations, and welcome to Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.”

Two specific awards were also presented to individuals who stood out during their training. 

The ‘Trainers Award’ – awarded by the course trainers to the trainee who, in their opinion, deserves greatest recognition of their overall contribution and commitment throughout the course – was presented to firefighter Holmes and firefighter Zachariades-Howes. Firefighter’s Matthew Newcombe and Josh Van-Bergen were the recipients of the Silver Axe Award, presented to the trainees achieving the highest overall marks both practically and theoretically. 

Jack Makepeace, Station Manager based at SDC, said: “Congratulations to every firefighter passing out today – your hard work during the grueling training course has paid off, but that’s also down to the work done by our trainers. Their professionalism, commitment, and high standards play a vital role in preparing all of our trainees for the realities of the job and ensuring they’re as ready as they can be to serve our communities safely and effectively.”