Josh trades personal training for firefighting in Moray
Josh moved from Cambridgeshire last year to train as a firefighter after working as a personal trainer.
A former personal trainer from Cambridgeshire has begun a new career chapter in Elgin, Moray, joining the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as a trainee firefighter.
Josh Jones, 24, originally from Cambridge, completed his training in December 2024 after moving to the north of Scotland last summer to pursue a long-held ambition.
Now based at Elgin Community Fire Station, he is setting into his new role and reflecting on the transition from fitness to firefighting.
Josh said: “I’ve worked as a personal trainer since I was 16, so this was a big change for me.
“I didn’t have any experience in the fire service, but I’ve found the training and the role to be worthwhile.
Every day brings something new, and I’m learning a lot.
Despite his strong fitness background, Josh found the training course demanding in new and unexpected ways.
He said: “The training was definitely tough, especially at the start when everything was new.
“But the support from instructors and the rest of the team made a big difference.
“There was always someone to ask for help and to push you when you needed it.”
What appealed to Josh most was the opportunity to work as part of a close-knit team and contribute to the local community.
He said: “Whether responding to incidents, carrying out training, or engaging with the public, no two shifts are quite the same.”
Josh’s story is one of many showing how a wide range of life experience can lead to a role in the fire service.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) currently welcomes applications from people across Scotland, and beyond, who are ready for a new challenge and want to make a difference in their communities.
Ready to start your own journey? Find out more about wholetime firefighter recruitment on the SFRS website.