Ref: FOI/19045
RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST
West Midlands Fire Service has now completed its search for the information requested on 11th April 2019
Please find below a summary of our findings.
Request
All points related to firefighter recruitment between August 2017 to current day unless stated otherwise. All information can be redacted so no individual is identifiable (I.e I don’t require names, emails or addresses of candidates).
Point 1
I am doing some research based and would like to know the scores and pass marks you used in your online test (numerical, verbal and mechanical) with a breakdown of ethnicity and gender indicating who was successful and who was not. Can I have the results for aforementioned tests between August 2017 to current day.
The information you provide would show for example that a white male on 01/08/17 scored 8 out of 10 and passed. I think a spreadsheet would probably be best as I am sure there are many people. If you ran separate campaigns can you ensure this is indicated.
Reply
Information only available for the last 12 months (April 2018 onwards)
Recruitment is ongoing and not campaign based.
Dependent upon our requirements at the time both men and women / BAME and white, have needed to score 7 to progress. Equally, during the most recent phase, all candidates who achieved 6 progressed to the next stage.
| Scored 6 or above and progressed | Scored 6 or below and did not progress | |
| Male White | 245 | 449 |
| Female White | 56 | 103 |
| Male BAME | 49 | 150 |
| Female BAME | 5 | 26 |
Request
Point 2
From August 2017 to current day, could you please tell me how many people were attracted month by month (by attracted I mean completed a valid online application) broken down by ethnicity and gender. This data must include ethnicity and gender together so one can conclude how many white women compared to BME women for example have been attracted.
Reply
Information only available for last 12 months (April 2018 onwards)
| Male White | 2606 |
| Female White | 751 |
| Male BAME | 909 |
| Female BAME | 229 |
Request
Point 3
From August 2017 to current day broken down month by month how much money has been spent on social media advertising to support recruitment.
Reply
This information is exempt under section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as this information is reasonably accessible to the requestor. Information concerning how much money has been spent on social media advertising to support recruitment.can be found on West Midlands Fire Service website at the following link:
https://www.wmfs.net/your-fire-service/openness/documents/
To down load the data please choose an year, once the excel spreadsheet has been downloaded choose an month, then highlight the top row of the sheet and then from the “data” option on top of screen choose “filter” option, from “Expenditure Category” column choose “Indirect Employee Expenses, from the “CIPFA detailed expenditure type” column choose “Recruitment and Assessment of Uniformed Staff” and the required information will show.
Request
Point 4
Since August 2017 to current day can I have copies of the social media adverts (photos and wording) and targeting information. So for each advert what key words for targeting, gender information and an explanation for which geographical area was targeted if it wasn’t the West Midlands as a whole (for example 5km radius of Smethwick). Please can you ensure the dates these adverts were run and the duration.
Reply
This information is exempt under section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as this information is reasonably accessible to the requestor. Information concerning the social media adverts (photos and wording) and targeting information can be found on West Midlands Fire Service website at the following link:
https://twitter.com/westmidsfire
https://en-gb.facebook.com/WestMidsFire/
WMFS do not hold information in relation to geographical areas.
Request
Point 5
Since August 2017 to current day, how many people have been successful in receiving an offer of employment as a firefighter. Can this figure be broken down by gender and ethnicity, so for example we can see how many people were white female.
Reply
This information is exempt under section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as this information is reasonably accessible to the requestor. Information concerning our how many people have successfully received offer of employment can be found on CIMIS website at the following link:
Information is on page 1 and onwards.
Request
Point 6
Since August 2017 how many people have attended firefighter assessment days? Can this figure be for each assessment period which I believe usually runs for a week. Again can this information be broken down by gender and ethnicity together so one could conclude how many white women for example attended.
Reply
Information only available for last 12 months (April 2018 onwards)
| Male white | 127 |
| Female white | 34 |
| Male BAME | 32 |
| Female BAME | 5 |
Request
Point 7
Since August 2017 to present day, can I have all the scores for your assessment days individually. This data must include gender, ethnicity, date, score and whether the person passed or failed.
Reply
Information only available for last 12 months (April 2018 onwards)
All successful candidates have achieved a minimum of an overall average score of 3 and passed the job related tests
| Successful | Unsuccessful | |
| Male White | 46 | 81 |
| Female White | 22 | 12 |
| Male BAME | 13 | 19 |
| Female BAME | 3 | 2 |
Request
Point 8
During the practical selections since August 2017 can I have a copy of the equipment carry times broken down by gender, ethnicity and date. For example on x day a white female completed the equipment carry in x time. Please could you indicate whether the person passed, failed or was invited back for re-assessment
Reply
Information only available for last 12 months (April 2018 onwards)
All successful candidates (see table above) have passed the equipment carry and completed the test within 5 minutes and 47 seconds.
Request
Point 9
From April 2018 to April 2019 what was the total spend for firefighter recruitment? This cost is to include all staff costs (meaning staff directly or indirectly engaged with recruitment or recruitment activities such as attending selection events during work time), all contracts and social media spend and any use of facility that would have otherwise been chargeable (for example using a meeting space that is also available for hire).
Could this be broken down for total costs in each area (I.e stuff costs x).
Reply
No dedicated recruitment team. Employees carry out recruitment activity as one element of their wider role. Recruitment activity is carried out on Fire Service premises.
Request
Point 10
Can I have a copy of the findings and/or any advice from an equality impact assessment or legal consultation that was sought before conducting the current methods of firefighter recruitment (those used since 2017 onwards).
Reply
The aims of our recruitment activity are entirely aligned to organisational strategy and the outcomes detailed in the Plan. The activity contributes to the general duty placed upon WMFS under the Equality Act 2010.
If you have any queries about this freedom of information request, please contact us. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
For service complaints, issues or comments regarding this request please contact The Public Relations Department, West Midlands Fire Service, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW
Further information concerning Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner website at either the following link: https://ico.org.uk/ or at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.
