Why it matters: The recruitment drive comes amid growing national pressures on fire services, with leaders raising urgent concerns about underfunding and recruitment challenges just two weeks ago.
The big picture: Suffolk is taking "proactive steps" while other fire services struggle. The Chancellor's Spending Review on 11 June allocated no additional dedicated funding for fire and rescue services, forcing them to compete for resources within broader local government budgets.
The details: The new roles span specialist areas including:
Wellbeing support
Risk management
Professional standards
IT infrastructure
Project support
These positions complement ongoing recruitment of on-call firefighters and preparations for Suffolk's new state-of-the-art control centre in Ipswich, which becomes operational by the end of this month.
For context: The investment directly responds to findings from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, which praised the service's operational effectiveness but highlighted areas for improvement in IT infrastructure, risk management, and workplace culture.
Suffolk County Council approved the £1.6 million, two-year investment package in February 2025.
What they're saying: Chief Fire Officer Jon Lacey said: "We welcomed the Inspectorate's report as a catalyst for positive change. This funding enables us to tackle the areas identified for improvement, particularly IT systems, infrastructure, and support for our people, while building on the many strengths highlighted in the report."
He added: "In Suffolk, we're not waiting for problems to escalate. We're putting the right people, tools, and structures in place now to continue delivering a safe, effective, and future-ready fire service for our communities."
Councillor Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, commented: "The national challenges raised by the NFCC are very real, and Suffolk is not immune. But we have taken early, decisive action."
What's next: Later this year, the service will begin recruiting wholetime firefighters to further bolster frontline capabilities. The funding also supports upgrades to equipment and station infrastructure.
The bottom line: While fire services nationwide face funding pressures, Suffolk is investing early to build a resilient, future-ready service that addresses inspectorate recommendations and supports staff wellbeing.
